Birds to See in Idaho in May
137 bird species on our list for Idaho are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Mallard, Mourning Dove and Common Starling. New this month: Northern Yellow Warbler, Swainson's Thrush, Willow Flycatcher and Common Yellowthroat and 20 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Idaho’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 137 birds in May
137 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.78% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.99% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.51% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.24% in May
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 2.10% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in May
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorCommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.35% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in May
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.15% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.02% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.87% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.79% in May
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraSummer visitorCommon36–43 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.77% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaResidentCommon9–11 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.46% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisResidentCommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.39% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.39% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.31% in May
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.31% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.29% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.29% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.28% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsResidentCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.27% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon91–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.25% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.23% in May
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.20% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisSummer visitorUncommon26–28 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.19% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.18% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.13% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.11% in May
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaSummer visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.10% in May
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorCommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.09% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.09% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentUncommon32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in May
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusResidentUncommon8–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusResidentUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiResidentUncommon19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.04% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.04% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorUncommon19–25 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.04% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.03% in May
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.03% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in May
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusResidentUncommon20–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.02% in May
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataWinter visitorUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentUncommon21–26 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.01% in May
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorRare18–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentRare43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.01% in May
Flammulated OwlPsiloscops flammeolusSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantUncommon34–44 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.00% in May
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantRare18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
White-headed WoodpeckerPicoides albolarvatusResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantRare10–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantRare10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentRare40–46 cmRegularly 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