Birds to See in North Carolina in August
140 bird species on our list for North Carolina are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Mourning Dove, American Crow, Tufted Titmouse and Ruby-throated Hummingbird. New this month: Pied-billed Grebe, Tennessee Warbler, Cape May Warbler and Northern Waterthrush and 15 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
Ruby-throated HummingbirdBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
OspreyBusiest month of the year · All year
Least SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Semipalmated PloverBusiest month of the year · All year
Common TernBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
From North Carolina’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 140 birds in August
140 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.96% in Aug
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 3.35% in Aug
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.10% in Aug
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.77% in Aug- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.61% in Aug
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.35% in Aug
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 2.07% in Aug
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Aug
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in Aug
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Aug
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in Aug
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Aug
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Aug
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Aug
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in Aug
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Aug
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Aug
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Aug- OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.99% in Aug
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Aug
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Aug
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Aug
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.56% in Aug
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Aug
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.50% in Aug
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Aug
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Aug
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Aug- Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.45% in Aug
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentUncommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Aug
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Aug- Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Aug
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.35% in Aug
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Aug- Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in Aug
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Aug
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Aug
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentUncommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Aug
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in Aug- Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.28% in Aug
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Aug
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Aug
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.25% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Aug
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Aug
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Aug
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.23% in Aug
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Aug
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.22% in Aug
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.21% in Aug
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.21% in Aug
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Aug
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.21% in Aug
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Aug
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Aug
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.18% in Aug
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Aug
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in Aug
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Aug
American Black DuckAnas rubripesResidentUncommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Aug
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Aug
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in Aug
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Aug
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Aug
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in Aug
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaResidentUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Aug
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Aug
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Aug
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.06% in Aug
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Aug
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Aug
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.06% in Aug
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Aug
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaWinter visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorRare33–42 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.03% in Aug
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.02% in Aug
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentRare16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.02% in Aug
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.02% in Aug
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Aug
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in Aug
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusWinter visitorRare30–38 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentRare63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusWinter visitorRare41–46 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in Aug
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousPassage migrantRare18–21 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly Jul–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in Aug
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantUncommon40–51 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.00% in Aug
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Aug
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Aug
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorRare58–68 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.00% in Aug
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Aug
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Aug
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusResidentRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 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