Birds to See in Northwest Territories in May
104 bird species on our list for Northwest Territories are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Common Raven, American Robin, Mallard, Ring-billed Gull and Yellow-rumped Warbler. New this month: Lincoln's Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-crowned Sparrow and Chipping Sparrow and 71 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Eurasian TealBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Northern PintailBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Northern ShovelerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Common MerganserBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Snow GooseBusiest month of the year · May–Jun
From Northwest Territories’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 104 birds in May
104 birds
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.89% in May
American RobinTurdus migratoriusSummer visitorCommon20–28 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 3.42% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosSummer visitorCommon50–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 3.41% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisSummer visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.67% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 2.57% in May- Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.51% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 2.29% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorCommon23–27 cmRegularly May–Aug · 2.14% in May
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusSummer visitorCommon53–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.13% in May- Northern PintailAnas acutaSummer visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.00% in May
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.92% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly May–Aug · 1.92% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly May–Aug · 1.90% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosSummer visitorCommon41–53 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.79% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusSummer visitorCommon28–31 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.66% in May- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.58% in May
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorCommon40–50 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.51% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.48% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisSummer visitorCommon76–110 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.47% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.36% in May
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.34% in May
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.31% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusSummer visitorCommon70–102 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.31% in May
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.12% in May
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.00% in May
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.76% in May
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.74% in May- Common MerganserMergus merganserSummer visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.73% in May
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaSummer visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.70% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in May
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.67% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.64% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorSummer visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.62% in May
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusSummer visitorCommon120–150 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.60% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusSummer visitorCommon24–33 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.58% in May
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsSummer visitorCommon64–81 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.50% in May
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataSummer visitorCommon48–60 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.49% in May- Snow GooseAnser caerulescensPassage migrantUncommon69–84 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.49% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.48% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.47% in May
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaSummer visitorCommon15–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.46% in May
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisPassage migrantCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.44% in May
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiPassage migrantUncommon53–76 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.42% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.40% in May
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaSummer visitorCommon58–74 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.40% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorCommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.38% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.34% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisSummer visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.33% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.32% in May
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.32% in May
Greater ScaupAythya marilaSummer visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.31% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.31% in May
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaSummer visitorUncommon24–28 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.29% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataSummer visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.28% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.28% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.28% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.27% in May
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.27% in May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.26% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.26% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.25% in May
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusSummer visitorCommon62–68 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.23% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon45–65 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.21% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorUncommon12–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.21% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaSummer visitorCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.15% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.15% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.14% in May
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusSummer visitorCommon46–59 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusSummer visitorCommon24–34 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.13% in May
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.12% in May
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusWinter visitorCommon41–50 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.12% in May
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantUncommon36–42 cmRegularly May · 0.12% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in May
GadwallMareca streperaSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.10% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusSummer visitorCommon46–63 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.09% in May
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.09% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusSummer visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.09% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.08% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.07% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.07% in May
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorCommon34–58 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.07% in May
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusPassage migrantCommon40–49 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in May
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesPassage migrantCommon52–60 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.06% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.06% in May
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.06% in May
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiPassage migrantUncommon57–64 cmRegularly May · 0.06% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisSummer visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.06% in May
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.04% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.04% in May
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorSummer visitorUncommon139–157 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.04% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.04% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.03% in May
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorUncommon32–36 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.02% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.02% in May
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusPassage migrantUncommon20–26 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.02% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.02% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantUncommon18–22 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.01% 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