Birds to See in Rhode Island in August
121 bird species on our list for Rhode Island are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are American Herring Gull, Osprey, Gray Catbird, Song Sparrow and Mourning Dove. New this month: American Black Duck, Northern Gannet, Merlin and Eurasian Teal and 14 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
OspreyBusiest month of the year · Mar–Oct
Semipalmated PloverBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
Least SandpiperBusiest month of the year · May–Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
Ruby-throated HummingbirdBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Greater YellowlegsBusiest month of the year · Mar–Dec
From Rhode Island’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 121 birds in August
121 birds
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 3.07% in Aug- OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 2.97% in Aug
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 2.84% in Aug
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.48% in Aug
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in Aug
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 2.21% in Aug
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Aug
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in Aug
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Aug
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.83% in Aug
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.83% in Aug
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Aug
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in Aug- Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.69% in Aug
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.48% in Aug- Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.45% in Aug
- Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.39% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in Aug
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Aug
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Aug- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.12% in Aug
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Aug- Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.04% in Aug
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Aug
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Aug
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.87% in Aug
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Aug
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorCommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.82% in Aug
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Aug
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.80% in Aug
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.75% in Aug
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Aug
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.69% in Aug
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorCommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.66% in Aug
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.63% in Aug
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Aug
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.60% in Aug
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Aug
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Aug
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.45% in Aug
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Aug
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Aug
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.39% in Aug
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.35% in Aug
Forster's TernSterna forsteriPassage migrantUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.35% in Aug
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.34% in Aug
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Aug
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.30% in Aug
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.29% in Aug
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Aug
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.28% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.26% in Aug
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.24% in Aug
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in Aug
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in Aug
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.19% in Aug
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Aug
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.18% in Aug
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.18% in Aug
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.17% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaResidentUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Aug
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in Aug
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Aug
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Aug
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.13% in Aug
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in Aug
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in Aug
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Aug
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.10% in Aug
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in Aug
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in Aug
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.09% in Aug
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorUncommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.08% in Aug
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.08% in Aug
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Aug
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Aug
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.06% in Aug
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in Aug
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusPassage migrantRare30–38 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.05% in Aug
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.04% in Aug
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorRare16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.03% in Aug
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.03% in Aug
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Aug
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
DickcisselSpiza americanaPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Aug–Jan · 0.02% in Aug
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in Aug
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Greylag GooseAnser anserSummer visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Aug
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentRare20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.00% in Aug
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousPassage migrantRare18–21 cmRegularly Jul–Aug · 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