Birds to See in Quebec in May
180 bird species on our list for Quebec are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Song Sparrow, American Crow, Red-winged Blackbird and Common Grackle. New this month: Northern Yellow Warbler, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat and Veery and 62 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Northern FlickerBusiest month of the year · All year
Rose-breasted GrosbeakBusiest month of the year · May–Sep
Blue-headed VireoBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Northern WaterthrushBusiest month of the year · May–Sep
Black-throated Blue WarblerBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
American BitternBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
From Quebec’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 180 birds in May
180 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.38% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.27% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.97% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 2.82% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 2.54% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.05% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in May- Northern FlickerColaptes auratusSummer visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisSummer visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.52% in May
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.48% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.46% in May
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.29% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.09% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.01% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.97% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.88% in May
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.80% in May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.79% in May
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.78% in May
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.77% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.75% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPassage migrantCommon15–16 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.73% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.70% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.67% in May- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.66% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.64% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.64% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.59% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaWinter visitorCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.53% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.52% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.52% in May
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.52% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaSummer visitorCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.50% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.48% in May- Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.47% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.45% in May
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May- Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.41% in May
- Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.41% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.37% in May
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.37% in May
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensSummer visitorCommon69–84 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.36% in May
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
GadwallMareca streperaSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.33% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.31% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.31% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.29% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.28% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusSummer visitorCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.25% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaSummer visitorUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.25% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.24% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaSummer visitorCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.22% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.22% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.21% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.21% in May- American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisSummer visitorUncommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.19% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.18% in May
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.17% in May
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.16% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoWinter visitorCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.15% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataSummer visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.14% in May
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.13% in May
Brent GooseBranta berniclaSummer visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.13% in May
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.13% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.13% in May
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.12% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in May
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.11% in May
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorCommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.11% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.11% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.11% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in May
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaSummer visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.09% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataSummer visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.08% in May
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in May
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.07% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.06% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.06% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.05% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaWinter visitorUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.05% in May
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.05% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.05% in May
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.05% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.04% in May
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in May
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.04% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.03% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentUncommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.03% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisSummer visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.03% in May
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantUncommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.02% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorSummer visitorRare139–157 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in May
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusPassage migrantUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusSummer visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorRare33–39 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorRare25–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
King EiderSomateria spectabilisResidentRare46–64 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeSummer visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusPassage migrantRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorRare36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.00% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.00% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentRare80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantRare20–32 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in May
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisWinter visitorRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusSummer visitorRare120–150 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusSummer visitorRare38–44 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in May
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantRare58–70 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in May
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorRare32–36 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusPassage migrantRare19–23 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in May
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorRare17–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorRare45–50 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.00% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorSummer visitorRare140–160 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaPassage migrantRare16–26 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.00% in May
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusSummer visitorRare48–58 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaPassage migrantRare40–47 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
ChukarAlectoris chukarSummer visitorRare32–38 cmRegularly May–Jan · 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