Birds to See in South Carolina in August
108 bird species on our list for South Carolina are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Mourning Dove, American Crow, Tufted Titmouse and Blue Jay. New this month: American Redstart, Northern Yellow Warbler, Northern Waterthrush and Baltimore Oriole and 12 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
Ruby-throated HummingbirdBusiest month of the year · Mar–Oct
Black TernBusiest month of the year · May–Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Mar–Oct
Solitary SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Sandwich TernBusiest month of the year · Apr–Nov
Pectoral SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Mar–May
From South 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 108 birds in August
108 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.28% in Aug
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 3.71% in Aug
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.68% in Aug
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.55% in Aug
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.29% in Aug
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 2.20% in Aug- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 2.17% in Aug
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in Aug
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in Aug
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Aug
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Aug
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Aug
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Aug
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.26% in Aug
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Aug
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Aug
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Aug
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.86% in Aug
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.83% in Aug
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Aug
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Aug
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Aug
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Aug
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentCommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Aug
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Aug
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Aug
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Aug
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Aug
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Aug
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Aug
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Aug
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentCommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Aug- Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.32% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Aug
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Aug
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesResidentUncommon23–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Aug
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in Aug- Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.28% in Aug
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Aug- Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.27% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Aug
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Aug- Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.24% in Aug
- Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.23% in Aug
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusResidentUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Aug
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Aug
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.23% in Aug
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Aug
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Aug
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorUncommon33–42 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.21% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Aug
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.19% in Aug
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentUncommon48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Aug
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Aug
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.15% in Aug
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.15% in Aug
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaPassage migrantUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Aug
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.13% in Aug
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.13% in Aug
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Aug
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Aug
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaWinter visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Aug
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Aug
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.10% in Aug
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusWinter visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Aug
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentUncommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentRare16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.02% in Aug
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Aug
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentRare15–17 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxSummer visitorRare54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorRare28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.01% in Aug
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in Aug
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in Aug
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in Aug
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · records held back in Aug (protected)
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiScarceRare13–17 cmRegularly Aug–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