Birds to See in Tennessee in August
114 bird species on our list for Tennessee are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Mourning Dove, American Crow, Blue Jay and Ruby-throated Hummingbird. New this month: Ring-billed Gull, Pied-billed Grebe, Chestnut-sided Warbler and Northern Shoveler and 17 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
Ruby-throated HummingbirdBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Great White EgretBusiest month of the year · All year
OspreyBusiest month of the year · Feb–Nov
Least SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Mar–May
Pectoral SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Mar–May
Semipalmated SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
From Tennessee’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 114 birds in August
114 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.45% in Aug
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 3.82% in Aug
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.39% in Aug
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.09% in Aug- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.70% in Aug
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.63% in Aug
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.29% in Aug
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in Aug
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in Aug
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Aug
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in Aug
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in Aug
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in Aug
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Aug
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 1.33% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Aug
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Aug- Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Aug
- OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.96% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Aug
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Aug
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Aug
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Aug
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Aug
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Aug
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Aug
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.55% in Aug
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Aug
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.45% in Aug
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.44% in Aug
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Aug
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.37% in Aug
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Aug
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Aug- Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.32% in Aug
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Aug
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Aug
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Aug
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.25% in Aug- Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.25% in Aug
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Aug
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.21% in Aug
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Aug
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.17% in Aug- Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Aug
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.15% in Aug
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Aug
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Aug
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Aug
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.13% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Aug
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Aug
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.12% in Aug
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in Aug
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.10% in Aug
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.09% in Aug
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.08% in Aug
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.08% in Aug
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.08% in Aug
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.08% in Aug
Forster's TernSterna forsteriWinter visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Aug
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantRare23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in Aug
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in Aug
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisSummer visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.02% in Aug
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorRare34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Aug
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantRare31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorRare20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentRare63–73 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
WilletTringa semipalmataPassage migrantRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorRare52–64 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.00% in Aug
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaSummer visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.00% in Aug
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusPassage migrantRare17–18 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.00% in Aug
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 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