Birds to See in Wisconsin in August
141 bird species on our list for Wisconsin are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are Mourning Dove, Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, American Robin and American Crow. New this month: Swainson's Thrush, Tennessee Warbler, Northern Shoveler and Magnolia Warbler and 12 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
Cedar WaxwingBusiest month of the year · All year
Barn SwallowBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdBusiest month of the year · May–Sep
Great Blue HeronBusiest month of the year · All year
Great White EgretBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Lesser YellowlegsBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
From Wisconsin’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 141 birds in August
141 birds
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 3.26% in Aug
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.14% in Aug
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.82% in Aug
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.78% in Aug
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.77% in Aug- Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.36% in Aug
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.26% in Aug
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.26% in Aug
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 2.15% in Aug- Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 2.03% in Aug
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Aug- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.82% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Aug
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.60% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Aug- Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in Aug
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.47% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Aug
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Aug
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in Aug
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Aug
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusSummer visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Aug
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.27% in Aug
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Aug
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.05% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Aug
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.03% in Aug
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.99% in Aug
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.98% in Aug
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.79% in Aug
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Aug
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Aug- Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.72% in Aug
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.68% in Aug
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.64% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaWinter visitorCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Aug
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Aug
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Aug
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisSummer visitorCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Aug
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.50% in Aug- Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.49% in Aug
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Aug
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.48% in Aug
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.40% in Aug
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.39% in Aug
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.38% in Aug
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.37% in Aug
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.37% in Aug
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.35% in Aug
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Aug
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.32% in Aug
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Aug
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.31% in Aug
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Aug
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.27% in Aug
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.26% in Aug
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.24% in Aug
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.24% in Aug
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.23% in Aug
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.23% in Aug
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.23% in Aug
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.21% in Aug
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Aug
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.18% in Aug
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.18% in Aug
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.18% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.17% in Aug
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in Aug
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Aug
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Aug
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Aug
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.13% in Aug
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.13% in Aug
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.13% in Aug
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Aug
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in Aug
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.11% in Aug
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.10% in Aug
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Aug
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Aug
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.10% in Aug
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Aug
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in Aug
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Aug
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in Aug
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in Aug
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Aug
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Aug
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Aug
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.05% in Aug
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.05% in Aug
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.05% in Aug
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in Aug
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in Aug
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in Aug
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.04% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in Aug
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Aug
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.03% in Aug
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.03% in Aug
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorUncommon54–59 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.03% in Aug
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in Aug
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in Aug
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentRare12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorRare32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in Aug
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentRare16–26 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Aug
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Aug
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.00% in Aug
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Aug
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRegularly Apr–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