Birds to See in West Virginia in August
102 bird species on our list for West Virginia are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Mourning Dove, American Crow, Blue Jay and American Robin. New this month: Cape May Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler and Nashville Warbler and 9 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
Ruby-throated HummingbirdBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Cedar WaxwingBusiest month of the year · May–Feb
OspreyBusiest month of the year · Mar–Oct
Great White EgretBusiest month of the year · Mar–Nov
Solitary SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Least SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
From West Virginia’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 102 birds in August
102 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.65% in Aug
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 3.60% in Aug
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.60% in Aug
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.36% in Aug
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.82% in Aug
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.63% in Aug
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.31% in Aug- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 2.30% in Aug
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.15% in Aug- Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Feb · 2.13% in Aug
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.12% in Aug
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in Aug
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.62% in Aug
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Aug
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in Aug
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Aug
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Aug
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.15% in Aug
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Aug
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Aug
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Aug
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosWinter visitorCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Aug
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Aug
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Aug
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.73% in Aug
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Aug
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Aug
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.49% in Aug- OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.47% in Aug
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.41% in Aug
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.37% in Aug- Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorUncommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.35% in Aug
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.34% in Aug
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Aug- Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in Aug
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.30% in Aug
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.27% in Aug
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.27% in Aug
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Aug
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.22% in Aug
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Aug
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.19% in Aug
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.19% in Aug
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.18% in Aug- Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Aug
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Aug
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in Aug
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Aug
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Aug
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in Aug
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Aug
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Aug
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Aug
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Aug
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Aug
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in Aug
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in Aug
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Aug
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Aug
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.05% in Aug
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantRare19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.05% in Aug
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantCommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug · 0.02% in Aug
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantRare23–32 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.02% in Aug
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentRare43–51 cmRegularly Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantRare22–26 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantRare18–23 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Aug
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.01% in Aug
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentRare33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.00% in Aug
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentRare80–122 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.00% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoSummer visitorRare30–32 cmRegularly Jan–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