Birds to See in California in May
173 bird species on our list for California are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are House Finch, Mourning Dove, American Crow, Song Sparrow and Common Raven. New this month: Willow Flycatcher, Arctic Jaeger, Williamson's Sapsucker and Tennessee Warbler and 15 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From California’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 173 birds in May
173 birds
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.98% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.42% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in May
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in May
Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusResidentCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in May
Nuttall's WoodpeckerDryobates nuttalliiResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.01% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in May
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in May
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.88% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in May
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.61% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.46% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsResidentCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentCommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentCommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisResidentCommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaWinter visitorCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantCommon18–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraResidentUncommon36–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentUncommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentUncommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.14% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataResidentUncommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentUncommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaResidentUncommon58–74 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentUncommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusResidentUncommon8–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.10% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentCommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Common LoonGavia immerResidentUncommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaResidentUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
White-headed WoodpeckerPicoides albolarvatusSummer visitorUncommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in May
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaResidentUncommon15–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruberResidentUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentUncommon52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.07% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiPassage migrantUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in May
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in May
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentUncommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.05% in May
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.05% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in May
California GnatcatcherPolioptila californicaResidentUncommon10–11 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentUncommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in May
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisResidentRare16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in May
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantUncommon27–33 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.03% in May
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaSummer visitorRare16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentRare46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentRare58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiResidentRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesResidentUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisResidentUncommon26–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorRare22–26 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.02% in May
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorRare18–22 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.02% in May
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaWinter visitorUncommon19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in May
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSummer visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorRare33–42 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.01% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusResidentRare13–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentRare23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorRare32–36 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.01% in May
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusWinter visitorUncommon20–26 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.01% in May
California CondorGymnogyps californianusResidentRare109–140 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in May
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusSummer visitorRare21–25 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in May
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusResidentRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in May
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaWinter visitorRare10–13 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in May
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorRare37–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Flammulated OwlPsiloscops flammeolusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in May
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentRare38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorRare11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorRare87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusWinter visitorRare28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.00% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantRare19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorRare12–15 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.00% in May
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesResidentRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisSummer visitorRare21–23 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.00% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.00% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorRare37–41 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.00% in May
Gila WoodpeckerMelanerpes uropygialisResidentRare20–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataWinter visitorRare41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaWinter visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.00% in May
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisResidentRare20–24 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.00% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentRare43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.00% in May
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusWinter visitorRare18–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisWinter visitorRare12–15 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.00% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantRare34–44 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.00% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.00% in May
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · records held back in May (protected)
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaWinter visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantRare16–20 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentRare12–13 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.00% in May
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorRare30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensWinter visitorRare11–12 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantRare14–14 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.00% in May
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusSummer visitorRare18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 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