Birds to See in District of Columbia in May
99 bird species on our list for District of Columbia are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Northern Cardinal, Common Starling, House Sparrow and Gray Catbird. New this month: American Redstart, Magnolia Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler and Swainson's Thrush and 17 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Great Crested FlycatcherBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Scarlet TanagerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
OvenbirdBusiest month of the year · Apr–Jun
Baltimore OrioleBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Northern WaterthrushBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Leaving soon
From District of Columbia’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 99 birds in May
99 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.61% in May
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.33% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.81% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.57% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 2.52% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.38% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.36% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.26% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in May
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in May- Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.74% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in May
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.40% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.25% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.18% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in May- Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.99% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.97% in May- OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaPassage migrantCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.96% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.91% in May- Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.91% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.89% in May
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.83% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.83% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in May- Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.70% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.52% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.51% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.48% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.47% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.47% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.35% in May
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.32% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May- Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.31% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.25% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.22% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.19% in May
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.16% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.14% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.13% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.10% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in May
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.08% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.08% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.08% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.08% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.06% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.05% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantRare23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.02% in May
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumPassage migrantRare13–17 cmRegularly May · 0.02% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantRare16–22 cmRegularly May · 0.02% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.01% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in May
DickcisselSpiza americanaPassage migrantRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantRare22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorRare46–63 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentRare27–30 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantRare31–35 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentRare16–25 cmRegularly Mar–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