Birds to See in Alaska in May
160 bird species on our list for Alaska are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Mallard, Common Raven, Bald Eagle and Yellow-rumped Warbler. New this month: Northern Yellow Warbler, Red-necked Phalarope, Swainson's Thrush and Semipalmated Sandpiper and 61 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
American RobinBusiest month of the year · All year
Yellow-rumped WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Eurasian TealBusiest month of the year · All year
Northern ShovelerBusiest month of the year · Mar–Dec
Sandhill CraneBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Semipalmated PloverBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
From Alaska’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 160 birds in May
160 birds
- American RobinTurdus migratoriusSummer visitorCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.20% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 2.21% in May- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.09% in May
- Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaSummer visitorCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.73% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in May- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.52% in May
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.44% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorCommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.43% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisSummer visitorCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in May
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusResidentCommon20–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in May- Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.12% in May
Greater ScaupAythya marilaResidentCommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in May- Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.03% in May
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaSummer visitorCommon15–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.01% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in May
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.00% in May
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaResidentCommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.81% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.81% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.76% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.76% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorCommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.74% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.73% in May
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsSummer visitorCommon64–81 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.72% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.61% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in May
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusSummer visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiSummer visitorCommon53–76 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.55% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.52% in May
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in May
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusResidentCommon8–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in May
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusSummer visitorCommon62–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in May
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in May
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosSummer visitorCommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.50% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in May
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisResidentCommon37–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.45% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.44% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.43% in May
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataSummer visitorCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.42% in May
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaResidentCommon58–74 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.41% in May
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.40% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.38% in May
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusSummer visitorCommon48–58 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.32% in May
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaSummer visitorCommon50–71 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.30% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorCommon41–46 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.30% in May
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaSummer visitorUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.29% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in May
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaSummer visitorCommon23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisWinter visitorCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusSummer visitorCommon120–150 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.28% in May
Brent GooseBranta berniclaSummer visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.28% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.25% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusSummer visitorCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.22% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.22% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.21% in May
Rock PtarmiganLagopus mutaSummer visitorUncommon34–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.20% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruberSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.16% in May
Vega GullLarus vegaeSummer visitorUncommon55–67 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.14% in May
King EiderSomateria spectabilisSummer visitorCommon46–64 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.14% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in May
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.13% in May
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaSummer visitorUncommon24–28 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.13% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusResidentUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.12% in May
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPassage migrantUncommon19–21 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in May
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorUncommon46–51 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.11% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasWinter visitorCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorCommon34–58 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.11% in May
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusSummer visitorCommon20–22 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.10% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisSummer visitorUncommon45–65 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.10% in May
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorCommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.09% in May
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.09% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentUncommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusSummer visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoSummer visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in May
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in May
Sabine's GullXema sabiniSummer visitorUncommon27–33 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in May
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosSummer visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.07% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorUncommon40–47 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.07% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleSummer visitorUncommon30–32 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.05% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaSummer visitorUncommon58–77 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.05% in May
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in May
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesPassage migrantRare17–18 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.04% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.04% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusPassage migrantRare38–44 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoWinter visitorUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.03% in May
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusSummer visitorUncommon52–71 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.03% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaPassage migrantRare17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.02% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusWinter visitorUncommon41–50 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in May
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in May
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSummer visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaScarceRare30–35 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.02% in May
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusWinter visitorUncommon21–28 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.02% in May
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostrisPassage migrantRare66–84 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantRare20–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiPassage migrantRare57–64 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.01% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisPassage migrantRare16–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisSummer visitorRare35–43 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.01% in May
Little AukAlle allePassage migrantRare18–21 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.01% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.01% in May
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantRare32–36 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
Taiga Bean GooseAnser fabalisPassage migrantRare68–88 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.01% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantUncommon37–41 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusResidentRare19–22 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.00% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorRare11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
SmewMergellus albellusPassage migrantRare38–44 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaSummer visitorRare43–50 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.00% in May
Steller's Sea-eagleHaliaeetus pelagicusPassage migrantRare85–105 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in May
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraResidentRare36–43 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisPassage migrantRare43–54 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in May
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorRare30–38 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