60 birds were recorded seen in Illinois in August in our iNaturalist sample; 6 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.
Top birds in August
Great Blue Heron
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Mallard
Northern Cardinal
Great Egret
Ring-billed Gull
Canada Goose
Double-crested Cormorant
Green Heron
Red-tailed Hawk
All birds seen in Illinois in August
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 1,486 | Aug (peak) |
| 2 | American Goldfinch | Spinus tristis | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 1,338 | Aug (peak) |
| 3 | House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Old World Sparrows | 1,069 | Apr (past peak) |
| 4 | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Archilochus colubris | Hummingbirds | 1,029 | Aug (peak) |
| 5 | Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 953 | Apr (past peak) |
| 6 | Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | Cardinals and Allies | 898 | Apr (past peak) |
| 7 | Great Egret | Ardea alba | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 850 | Aug (peak) |
| 8 | Ring-billed Gull | Larus delawarensis | Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers | 808 | Mar (past peak) |
| 9 | Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 733 | Apr (past peak) |
| 10 | Double-crested Cormorant | Nannopterum auritum | Cormorants and Shags | 699 | Apr (past peak) |
| 11 | Green Heron | Butorides virescens | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 690 | May (past peak) |
| 12 | Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 645 | Feb (past peak) |
| 13 | American Robin | Turdus migratorius | Thrushes | 557 | Apr (past peak) |
| 14 | Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | Pigeons and Doves | 549 | Apr (past peak) |
| 15 | Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | Tyrant Flycatchers | 536 | May (past peak) |
| 16 | Black-crowned Night Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 509 | May (past peak) |
| 17 | House Finch | Haemorhous mexicanus | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 490 | Apr (past peak) |
| 18 | Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 467 | Apr (past peak) |
| 19 | Downy Woodpecker | Dryobates pubescens | Woodpeckers | 466 | Apr (past peak) |
| 20 | Cooper's Hawk | Astur cooperii | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 466 | Sep (rising) |
| 21 | Eastern Wood-Pewee | Contopus virens | Tyrant Flycatchers | 403 | May (past peak) |
| 22 | Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | Swallows and Martins | 392 | May (past peak) |
| 23 | Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 387 | Apr (past peak) |
| 24 | Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | Cardinals and Allies | 364 | May (past peak) |
| 25 | Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | Plovers and Lapwings | 353 | May (past peak) |
| 26 | Cedar Waxwing | Bombycilla cedrorum | Waxwings | 353 | May (past peak) |
| 27 | Black-capped Chickadee | Poecile atricapillus | Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice | 303 | Apr (past peak) |
| 28 | Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | New World Vultures | 299 | Apr (past peak) |
| 29 | Northern Flicker | Colaptes auratus | Woodpeckers | 295 | Apr (past peak) |
| 30 | Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | Crows, Jays, and Magpies | 293 | May (past peak) |
| 31 | Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies | 272 | Apr (past peak) |
| 32 | Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | New World Sparrows | 270 | Apr (past peak) |
| 33 | Northern House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | Wrens | 267 | May (past peak) |
| 34 | Least Sandpiper | Calidris minutilla | Sandpipers and Allies | 266 | May (past peak) |
| 35 | Red-headed Woodpecker | Melanerpes erythrocephalus | Woodpeckers | 266 | May (past peak) |
| 36 | Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularius | Sandpipers and Allies | 263 | May (past peak) |
| 37 | American Herring Gull | Larus smithsonianus | Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers | 249 | Feb (past peak) |
| 38 | Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 248 | May (past peak) |
| 39 | Solitary Sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | Sandpipers and Allies | 239 | May (past peak) |
| 40 | Sandhill Crane | Antigone canadensis | Cranes | 235 | Mar (past peak) |
| 41 | White-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta carolinensis | Nuthatches | 226 | Mar (past peak) |
| 42 | Common Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | Nightjars and Allies | 225 | Aug (peak) |
| 43 | Lesser Yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | Sandpipers and Allies | 218 | Apr (past peak) |
| 44 | Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 216 | May (past peak) |
| 45 | European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Starlings | 205 | Apr (past peak) |
| 46 | Red-bellied Woodpecker | Melanerpes carolinus | Woodpeckers | 202 | Apr (past peak) |
| 47 | American Crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos | Crows, Jays, and Magpies | 201 | Apr (past peak) |
| 48 | Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 196 | Feb (past peak) |
| 49 | Semipalmated Sandpiper | Calidris pusilla | Sandpipers and Allies | 189 | Aug (peak) |
| 50 | American Kestrel | Falco sparverius | Falcons and Caracaras | 188 | Mar (past peak) |