Birds to See in South Dakota in July
124 bird species on our list for South Dakota are recorded regularly in July
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Mourning Dove, Red-winged Blackbird, Barn Swallow and Western Meadowlark. New this month: Lesser Yellowlegs, Greater Yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpiper and Least Sandpiper and 5 more.
On the move in July
GBIF · JulArriving
At their peak
From South Dakota’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 124 birds in July
124 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.81% in Jul
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraSummer visitorCommon23–34 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 3.68% in Jul
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.49% in Jul
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.74% in Jul
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorCommon16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 2.44% in Jul
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 2.24% in Jul
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.91% in Jul
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Jul
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.55% in Jul
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.54% in Jul
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Jul
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.37% in Jul
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Jul
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Aug · 1.27% in Jul
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Jul
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.13% in Jul
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Jul
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Jul
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorCommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.06% in Jul
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Jul
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Jul
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.96% in Jul
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Jul
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Jul
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Jul
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Jul
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Jul
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorCommon28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.74% in Jul
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Jul
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Jul
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Jul
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.62% in Jul
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Jul
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Jul
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.59% in Jul
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorCommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.58% in Jul
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Jul
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Jul
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.50% in Jul
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Jul
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Jul
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.46% in Jul
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.45% in Jul
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorCommon32–36 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.44% in Jul
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.40% in Jul
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.37% in Jul
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.36% in Jul
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Jul
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.35% in Jul
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.34% in Jul
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.34% in Jul
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.34% in Jul
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.33% in Jul
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.33% in Jul
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Jul
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Jul
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Jul
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.30% in Jul
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.27% in Jul
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorUncommon19–25 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.26% in Jul
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in Jul
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.24% in Jul
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in Jul
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorUncommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.23% in Jul
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.22% in Jul
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Jul
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusWinter visitorCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jul
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.21% in Jul
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Jul
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Jul
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Jul
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.20% in Jul
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorCommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.20% in Jul
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.18% in Jul
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Jul
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Jul
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisSummer visitorUncommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jul
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.16% in Jul
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.16% in Jul
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in Jul
Northern PintailAnas acutaSummer visitorCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jul
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.13% in Jul
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Jul
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorUncommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in Jul
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jul
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.11% in Jul
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Jul
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.10% in Jul
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorCommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jul
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.09% in Jul
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorCommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Jul
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisSummer visitorUncommon26–28 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.09% in Jul
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Jul
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.08% in Jul
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Jul
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Jul
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jul
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.06% in Jul
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Jul
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.05% in Jul
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.05% in Jul
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in Jul
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Jul
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.04% in Jul
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Jul
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Jul
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.03% in Jul
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jul
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Jul
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorRare31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Jul
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Jul
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusSummer visitorRare8–12 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.02% in Jul
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jul
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Jul
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.01% in Jul
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Jul
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraSummer visitorRare36–43 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Jul
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Jul
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentRare28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jul
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosSummer visitorRare21–26 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.01% in Jul
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantRare23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Jul
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Jul
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Jul
Barred OwlStrix variaSummer visitorRare43–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.00% in Jul
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