Birds to See in Michigan in August
155 bird species on our list for Michigan are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Mourning Dove, Northern Cardinal, American Robin and American Crow. New this month: Magnolia Warbler, Swainson's Thrush, Tennessee Warbler and Bay-breasted Warbler and 20 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
Ruby-throated HummingbirdBusiest month of the year · May–Sep
Great White EgretBusiest month of the year · Apr–Nov
Lesser YellowlegsBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Least SandpiperBusiest month of the year · May
OspreyBusiest month of the year · Mar–Oct
Solitary SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
From Michigan’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 155 birds in August
155 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.35% in Aug
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 3.16% in Aug
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.83% in Aug
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.61% in Aug
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in Aug
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in Aug
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Aug
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Aug
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Aug
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Aug
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Aug
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.64% in Aug
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.58% in Aug
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.55% in Aug- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.53% in Aug
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.51% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Aug
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.40% in Aug
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Aug
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Aug
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Aug
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Aug- Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.97% in Aug
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentCommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Aug
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Aug
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Aug
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.83% in Aug
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.77% in Aug
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Aug
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Aug
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.75% in Aug
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.66% in Aug- Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.62% in Aug
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Aug- Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.58% in Aug
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.57% in Aug
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Aug
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Aug- OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.51% in Aug
- Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.50% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Aug
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.40% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Aug
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.40% in Aug
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.37% in Aug
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.36% in Aug
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Aug
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Aug
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.35% in Aug
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.32% in Aug
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.31% in Aug
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.31% in Aug
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Aug
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Aug
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Aug
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.27% in Aug
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.25% in Aug
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.25% in Aug
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantCommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.24% in Aug
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.24% in Aug
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Aug
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.23% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.22% in Aug
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Aug
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.21% in Aug
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.19% in Aug
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Aug
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.17% in Aug
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.16% in Aug
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Aug
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.15% in Aug
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.15% in Aug
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Aug
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.14% in Aug
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.14% in Aug
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Aug
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Aug
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in Aug
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in Aug
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.10% in Aug
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in Aug
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.07% in Aug
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.07% in Aug
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Aug
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Aug
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Aug
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Aug
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Aug
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in Aug
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Aug
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in Aug
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in Aug
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.04% in Aug
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in Aug
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.04% in Aug
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in Aug
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Aug
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.03% in Aug
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.02% in Aug
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.02% in Aug
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Aug
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentRare21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorRare36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Aug
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentRare30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Aug
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Aug
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Aug
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorRare32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Aug
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in Aug
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made