Birds to See in Newfoundland and Labrador in May
128 bird species on our list for Newfoundland and Labrador are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, American Crow, American Herring Gull, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Ring-billed Gull. New this month: Northern Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Common Tern and Northern Waterthrush and 42 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Newfoundland and Labrador’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 128 birds in May
128 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusSummer visitorCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 6.30% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 5.17% in May
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 4.05% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 3.18% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisSummer visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 3.15% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.01% in May
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaSummer visitorCommon15–19 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 2.41% in May
American Black DuckAnas rubripesResidentCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly May–Oct · 2.08% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.07% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.40% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in May
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in May
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Dec · 1.18% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaResidentCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.88% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in May
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.75% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.74% in May
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisSummer visitorCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.65% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.60% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.56% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorCommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.50% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.49% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.47% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorCommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.35% in May
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.34% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraWinter visitorCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.30% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.30% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusSummer visitorCommon24–33 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.28% in May
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.26% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.21% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.20% in May
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.20% in May
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.20% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysSummer visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.19% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.18% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.18% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.15% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorUncommon17–23 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.15% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.13% in May
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.13% in May
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.12% in May
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorCommon62–68 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.11% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.11% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaSummer visitorUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in May
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.10% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorCommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorUncommon91–137 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorCommon40–47 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in May
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.08% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.08% in May
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantUncommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.08% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaPassage migrantUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.07% in May
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusPassage migrantUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Jan–Jun · 0.07% in May
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.06% in May
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusResidentUncommon60–75 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorUncommon45–50 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.05% in May
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.04% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorUncommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.04% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly May · 0.04% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly May · 0.04% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaSummer visitorUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.03% in May
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSummer visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.03% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenanthePassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorRare12–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.03% in May
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusResidentRare46–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisPassage migrantRare80–122 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorUncommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.02% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusSummer visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.02% in May
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaPassage migrantUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaWinter visitorUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaPassage migrantUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.02% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisSummer visitorUncommon45–65 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in May
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorRare17–18 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorRare19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusPassage migrantRare21–28 cmRegularly Jan–Jun · 0.01% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosPassage migrantUncommon21–26 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Rock PtarmiganLagopus mutaResidentRare34–36 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in May
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.01% in May
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorUncommon52–71 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.01% in May
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantUncommon20–22 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantRare16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 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