Birds to See in Ontario in May
176 bird species on our list for Ontario are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Song Sparrow and Blue Jay. New this month: Common Yellowthroat, Baltimore Oriole, Gray Catbird and American Redstart and 52 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Nashville WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Least FlycatcherBusiest month of the year · May–Sep
Black-throated Blue WarblerBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
Blue-headed VireoBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Scarlet TanagerBusiest month of the year · May–Sep
From Ontario’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 176 birds in May
176 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.31% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 3.10% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 2.66% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.24% in May
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in May
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.99% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in May
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Aug · 1.69% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.41% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusSummer visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.32% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.28% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.21% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.14% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.14% in May
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.10% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.01% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.82% in May
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.80% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in May- Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.69% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.68% in May- Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.65% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.65% in May
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.64% in May
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.63% in May- Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.63% in May
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.52% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.50% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.48% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.44% in May- Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.44% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May- Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.39% in May
- Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.38% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaSummer visitorUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.38% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.35% in May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.35% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.34% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.32% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.31% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaSummer visitorCommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.30% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.30% in May
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.30% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.30% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.28% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.26% in May
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.24% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.23% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.22% in May
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.21% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentUncommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.18% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in May
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.17% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.16% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in May
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.14% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in May
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.14% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in May
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.13% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.13% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in May
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.11% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.11% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.10% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.09% in May
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorCommon39–56 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in May
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorCommon64–79 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.06% in May
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentUncommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in May
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.04% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.03% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in May
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.03% in May
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorRare17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantRare55–66 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentRare25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentRare36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in May
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaSummer visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in May
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in May
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.00% in May
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in May
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoSummer visitorRare30–32 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.00% in May
Long-eared OwlAsio otusWinter visitorRare35–40 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.00% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisPassage migrantRare46–56 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in May
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorRare16–26 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.00% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusPassage migrantRare48–66 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorRare33–39 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusPassage migrantRare28–38 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorRare32–36 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorRare37–41 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in May
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantRare20–32 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisWinter visitorRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusPassage migrantRare38–44 cmRegularly May · 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