Birds to See in Arizona in May
125 bird species on our list for Arizona are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are White-winged Dove, Mourning Dove, House Finch, Turkey Vulture and Gila Woodpecker. New this month: Purple Martin, Willow Flycatcher, Stilt Sandpiper and Northern Waterthrush and 5 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Northern Yellow WarblerBusiest month of the year · Mar–Oct
Elf OwlBusiest month of the year · Mar–Aug
Swainson's ThrushBusiest month of the year · Apr–Jun
Whiskered Screech-owlBusiest month of the year · All year
Northern Pygmy-owlBusiest month of the year · All year
Rose-breasted GrosbeakBusiest month of the year · Apr–Jul
From Arizona’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 125 birds in May
125 birds
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.94% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.91% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.73% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in May
Gila WoodpeckerMelanerpes uropygialisResidentCommon20–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.82% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in May
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in May
Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusResidentCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in May- Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.16% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in May
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisResidentCommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in May
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in May
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in May
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.61% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.57% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.43% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentCommon52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Arizona WoodpeckerPicoides arizonaeResidentUncommon19–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Gilded FlickerColaptes chrysoidesResidentUncommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaWinter visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraWinter visitorCommon36–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.16% in May- Elf OwlMicrathene whitneyiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.14% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentUncommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.12% in May
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in May- Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentUncommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May- Whiskered Screech-owlMegascops trichopsisSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiResidentUncommon19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.08% in May
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentUncommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.07% in May
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaWinter visitorUncommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.06% in May- Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorRare18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in May
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaResidentUncommon19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentRare46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.03% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesResidentUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
California CondorGymnogyps californianusSummer visitorRare109–140 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisResidentRare26–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorRare16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
Flammulated OwlPsiloscops flammeolusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.02% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentRare16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentRare14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantRare32–36 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantRare17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriPassage migrantRare33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisResidentRare20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusResidentRare21–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantRare28–38 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in May
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in May
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusResidentRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesResidentRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantRare22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.00% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantRare34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorRare11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in May
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentRare29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaPassage migrantRare12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.00% in May
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantRare40–46 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.00% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataWinter visitorRare41–49 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaWinter visitorRare63–73 cmRegularly Sep–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