Birds to See in British Columbia in May
182 bird species on our list for British Columbia are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, American Crow, Song Sparrow, Mallard and Canada Goose. New this month: Cedar Waxwing, Swainson's Thrush, Northern Yellow Warbler and Willow Flycatcher and 45 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Orange-crowned WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Cinnamon TealBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Nashville WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
WhimbrelBusiest month of the year · Mar–Jan
Wilson's PhalaropeBusiest month of the year · May–Sep
American AvocetBusiest month of the year · Apr–Dec
From British Columbia’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 182 birds in May
182 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.87% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.76% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.56% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.02% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.97% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in May- Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.42% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in May
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.31% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.10% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.01% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.94% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaResidentCommon9–11 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.65% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.57% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in May
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusResidentCommon8–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.43% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorUncommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May- Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraSummer visitorUncommon36–43 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.32% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentUncommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusWinter visitorCommon20–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May- Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.27% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruberResidentUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.26% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.26% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.25% in May
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisResidentUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.20% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsResidentCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorCommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantCommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.17% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.17% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.15% in May
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.15% in May
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorUncommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.14% in May
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.14% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.14% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.14% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorUncommon58–74 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.11% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.10% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in May
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.10% in May
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorCommon15–19 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.10% in May- WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.09% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorUncommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in May
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.09% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in May
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in May- Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in May
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisSummer visitorUncommon26–28 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorCommon69–84 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in May
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in May
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in May
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.05% in May
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorCommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentUncommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May- American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.03% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in May
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentRare100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentRare58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaResidentRare40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.02% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaSummer visitorUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorRare16–20 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.02% in May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorRare19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorRare31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorRare18–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in May
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorRare22–26 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaResidentRare12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in May
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorRare32–36 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiResidentRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorRare12–15 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in May
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusSummer visitorRare21–25 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.01% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaPassage migrantRare80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Flammulated OwlPsiloscops flammeolusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.01% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorRare33–39 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorRare33–36 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorRare12–15 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorRare34–44 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in May
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaSummer visitorRare36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorRare45–50 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in May
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorRare11–12 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.00% in May
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorRare16–18 cmRegularly Feb–Jul · 0.00% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in May
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.00% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSummer visitorRare18–21 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in May
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiPassage migrantRare57–64 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in May
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusSummer visitorRare21–28 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumSummer visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.00% in May
Long-eared OwlAsio otusSummer visitorRare35–40 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosSummer visitorRare21–26 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaSummer visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.00% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.00% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataWinter visitorRare41–49 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorRare7–9 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in May
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in May
Rock PtarmiganLagopus mutaSummer visitorRare34–36 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.00% in May
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusSummer visitorRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
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