Birds to See in Delaware in May
132 bird species on our list for Delaware are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Cardinal, American Robin, Mourning Dove and Gray Catbird. New this month: Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, American Redstart and Magnolia Warbler and 24 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Common YellowthroatBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Great Crested FlycatcherBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
OvenbirdBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Grey PloverBusiest month of the year · All year
Baltimore OrioleBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Leaving soon
Yellow-rumped WarblerLast regular month · Sep–May
Black-throated Blue WarblerLast regular month · Apr–May
Black-throated Green WarblerLast regular month · Apr–May
Northern WaterthrushLast regular month · Apr–May
Solitary SandpiperLast regular month · Apr–May
Rose-breasted GrosbeakLast regular month · Apr–May
From Delaware’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 132 birds in May
132 birds
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.55% in May
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.37% in May
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.21% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in May- Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.80% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.57% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.48% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in May- Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.31% in May
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.20% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.93% in May- Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.89% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in May- OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.85% in May
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorCommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.80% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.79% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorCommon33–36 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.73% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorCommon23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.71% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.70% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.68% in May- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in May
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.55% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.54% in May- Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.53% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.50% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in May
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.47% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorCommon23–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.42% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.40% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May- Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorCommon48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.25% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.25% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoSummer visitorUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.19% in May- Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.18% in May
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May- Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in May
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.16% in May- Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in May
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentCommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantUncommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.09% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.08% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.07% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.07% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in May
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.06% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.06% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.06% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.05% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in May
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.03% in May
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in May
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantRare16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorUncommon54–67 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.02% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.01% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantRare40–51 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantRare20–32 cmRegularly Mar–Jul · 0.01% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · records held back in May (protected)
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentRare25–30 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in May
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumPassage migrantRare13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly May–Jul · 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