Birds to See in Indiana in May
144 bird species on our list for Indiana are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Blue Jay and Song Sparrow. New this month: American Redstart, Bay-breasted Warbler, Magnolia Warbler and Chestnut-sided Warbler and 21 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Baltimore OrioleBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Aug
Great Crested FlycatcherBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Scarlet TanagerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Least FlycatcherBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
From Indiana’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 144 birds in May
144 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.86% in May
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.83% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.91% in May
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in May- Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.60% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.48% in May- Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.47% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.18% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in May- Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.06% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.00% in May- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.88% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.82% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.80% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.77% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.69% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.67% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.62% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May- Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.56% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.48% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.47% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.45% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.42% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.42% in May- Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.40% in May
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.38% in May
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.37% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.36% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.35% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.31% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.31% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.30% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.29% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorCommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.26% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.25% in May
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.25% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.21% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantCommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.20% in May
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.18% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.16% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.15% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.14% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.10% in May
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in May
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in May
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.07% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in May
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.07% in May
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in May
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in May
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.03% in May
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in May
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.02% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.02% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentRare30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in May
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantRare20–32 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in May
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorRare20–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorRare16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Jul · 0.00% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in May
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.00% in May
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentRare29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in May
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentRare27–30 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentRare40–46 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–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