Birds to See in Montana in August
151 bird species on our list for Montana are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Northern Flicker, Pine Siskin and Northern Yellow Warbler. New this month: Horned Grebe, Northern Pygmy-owl, Broad-winged Hawk and Sanderling and 11 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
From Montana’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
American RobinTurdus migratoriusSummer visitorCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.01% in Aug
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Mar · 2.46% in Aug
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Aug
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Aug
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.74% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Aug
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraSummer visitorCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Aug
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Aug
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Aug
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.23% in Aug
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.18% in Aug
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.17% in Aug
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Aug
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Aug
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.03% in Aug
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Aug
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorCommon16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.94% in Aug
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.92% in Aug
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Aug
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Aug
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.80% in Aug
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisSummer visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Aug
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.76% in Aug
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.69% in Aug
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.66% in Aug
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Aug
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.59% in Aug
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Aug
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.52% in Aug
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.51% in Aug
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.49% in Aug
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Aug
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.46% in Aug
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.46% in Aug
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.44% in Aug
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Aug
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Aug
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Aug
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.40% in Aug
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.37% in Aug
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.36% in Aug
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.35% in Aug
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.34% in Aug
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.33% in Aug
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.32% in Aug
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.32% in Aug
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.31% in Aug
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.30% in Aug
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.30% in Aug
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.30% in Aug
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.30% in Aug
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.29% in Aug
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Aug
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Aug
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisSummer visitorCommon19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.27% in Aug
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.27% in Aug
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Aug
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Aug
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraSummer visitorCommon36–43 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.25% in Aug
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Aug
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Aug
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataWinter visitorCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Aug
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.22% in Aug
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.22% in Aug
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Aug
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.21% in Aug
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoWinter visitorCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Aug
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentCommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Aug
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Aug
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.19% in Aug
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.19% in Aug
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisResidentUncommon26–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Aug
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.18% in Aug
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.18% in Aug
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Aug
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.17% in Aug
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorCommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Aug
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.17% in Aug
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in Aug
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorCommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Aug
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.14% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.13% in Aug
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.13% in Aug
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Aug
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.13% in Aug
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in Aug
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in Aug
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in Aug
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in Aug
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Aug
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Aug
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Aug
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Aug
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusSummer visitorUncommon8–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Aug
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Aug
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Aug
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in Aug
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.05% in Aug
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in Aug
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.04% in Aug
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in Aug
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaSummer visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.04% in Aug
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusPassage migrantUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.03% in Aug
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.03% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantRare23–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorUncommon19–25 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusSummer visitorUncommon20–26 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.03% in Aug
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusResidentUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Aug
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaSummer visitorUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorRare80–104 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisPassage migrantRare7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentRare43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorRare18–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantUncommon34–44 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantRare10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioSummer visitorRare16–25 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Aug
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorRare18–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiSummer visitorRare19–25 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.00% in Aug
ChukarAlectoris chukarWinter visitorRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Aug
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisSummer visitorRare16–21 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Aug
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Aug
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Aug
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusPassage migrantRare140–165 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Aug
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.00% in Aug
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusResidentRare12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Aug
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 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