Birds to See in Colorado in May
162 bird species on our list for Colorado are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Mourning Dove, House Finch and Mallard. New this month: Northern Yellow Warbler, Gray Catbird, Common Yellowthroat and Swainson's Thrush and 42 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Common GrackleBusiest month of the year · Mar–Oct
Yellow-rumped WarblerBusiest month of the year · All year
Western KingbirdBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Northern MockingbirdBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Wilson's PhalaropeBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Sand MartinBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
From Colorado’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 162 birds in May
162 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.33% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.79% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraSummer visitorCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.49% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.37% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in May- Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.93% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in May
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.80% in May
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorCommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in May- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.58% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in May- Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.36% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.16% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in May
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.01% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in May
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.68% in May
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.56% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.56% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.49% in May
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.46% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.45% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.40% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May- Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosSummer visitorUncommon21–26 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.36% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.36% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.33% in May
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorCommon43–51 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.32% in May
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraSummer visitorCommon36–43 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · 0.32% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May- Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.29% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.29% in May
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.27% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.26% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May- Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.17% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.17% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.16% in May
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.14% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.11% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in May
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.10% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in May
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisResidentUncommon26–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantUncommon18–22 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in May
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorUncommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorUncommon19–25 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.07% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.05% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantRare34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.04% in May
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentRare21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.04% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorRare16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantRare10–13 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.03% in May
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.03% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantRare10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaSummer visitorUncommon15–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorRare17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in May
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.02% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.02% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in May
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.02% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantRare40–46 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.01% in May
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisWinter visitorRare16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentRare23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentRare52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorRare17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Flammulated OwlPsiloscops flammeolusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusResidentRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantRare16–17 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaPassage migrantRare16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantRare11–12 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiWinter visitorRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorRare18–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in May
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Dec–May · 0.00% in May
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumPassage migrantRare13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorRare28–38 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.00% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantRare14–14 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantRare23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusPassage migrantRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusSummer visitorRare20–24 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.00% in May
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusSummer visitorRare21–28 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.00% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisPassage migrantRare7–9 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataSummer visitorRare66–84 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.00% in May
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentRare53–63 cmRegularly Nov–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