Birds to See in Minnesota in August
151 bird species on our list for Minnesota are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, American Crow, American Robin, White-breasted Nuthatch and Northern Cardinal. New this month: Northern Shoveler, Palm Warbler, Tennessee Warbler and Sharp-shinned Hawk and 18 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
Barn SwallowBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Gray CatbirdBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
Cedar WaxwingBusiest month of the year · All year
Ruby-throated HummingbirdBusiest month of the year · May–Sep
Great Blue HeronBusiest month of the year · Mar–Nov
Great White EgretBusiest month of the year · Apr–Nov
From Minnesota’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 151 birds in August
151 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.27% in Aug
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.91% in Aug
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.48% in Aug
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.38% in Aug
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.37% in Aug
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.35% in Aug
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in Aug
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 2.00% in Aug- Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.99% in Aug
- Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.96% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in Aug- Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.82% in Aug
- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.75% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Aug
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisSummer visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.52% in Aug
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Aug
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.41% in Aug
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.37% in Aug- Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.36% in Aug
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Aug
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.12% in Aug
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.11% in Aug
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.11% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Aug
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Aug
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Aug
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Aug
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.92% in Aug- Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.87% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaWinter visitorCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Aug
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.81% in Aug
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.79% in Aug
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Aug
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Aug
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.67% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Aug
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Aug
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.62% in Aug
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.60% in Aug
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.59% in Aug
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.58% in Aug
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.57% in Aug
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.51% in Aug
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.49% in Aug
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.48% in Aug
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisSummer visitorCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Aug
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.43% in Aug
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.43% in Aug
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.40% in Aug
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Aug
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.36% in Aug
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.34% in Aug
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorCommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in Aug
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.31% in Aug
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.30% in Aug
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.30% in Aug
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.29% in Aug
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.26% in Aug
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.24% in Aug
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Aug
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Aug
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.23% in Aug
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Aug
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.22% in Aug
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.21% in Aug
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.20% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.18% in Aug
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.18% in Aug
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.16% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Aug
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Aug
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in Aug
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.14% in Aug
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.14% in Aug
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Aug
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.13% in Aug
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in Aug
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Aug
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in Aug
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in Aug
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in Aug
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Aug
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Aug
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Aug
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in Aug
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.09% in Aug
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.08% in Aug
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in Aug
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in Aug
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.07% in Aug
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Aug
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.07% in Aug
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.07% in Aug
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Aug
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Aug
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in Aug
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Aug
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in Aug
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorUncommon16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.05% in Aug
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusWinter visitorCommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Aug
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in Aug
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.05% in Aug
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.04% in Aug
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.04% in Aug
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.03% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorRare58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.03% in Aug
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.02% in Aug
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Aug
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorUncommon54–59 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in Aug
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.02% in Aug
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorRare20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Mute SwanCygnus olorSummer visitorUncommon140–160 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.00% in Aug
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Aug
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusWinter visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in Aug
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusPassage migrantRare52–64 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.00% in Aug
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantRare40–46 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Aug
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorRare17–20 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 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