Birds to See in Iowa in May
149 bird species on our list for Iowa are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Cardinal, Gray Catbird and Baltimore Oriole. New this month: Common Yellowthroat, Baltimore Oriole, Dickcissel and Ruby-throated Hummingbird and 34 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Rose-breasted GrosbeakBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Swainson's ThrushBusiest month of the year · May
Least FlycatcherBusiest month of the year · May
Scarlet TanagerBusiest month of the year · May–Sep
OvenbirdBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
From Iowa’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 149 birds in May
149 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.21% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.80% in May
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.77% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.26% in May
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 2.21% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in May- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.73% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.68% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.60% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.51% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.33% in May- Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.33% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.33% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.31% in May
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.11% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.80% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataPassage migrantCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.80% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.72% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.72% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.68% in May- Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.67% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.62% in May- Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.60% in May
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in May
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.47% in May- Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.43% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.41% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.41% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.41% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.36% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May- OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.35% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.33% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.31% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.29% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May · 0.29% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.24% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.24% in May
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.23% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.23% in May
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.20% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.20% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.20% in May
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.20% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.18% in May
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.18% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.17% in May
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.17% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.17% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.16% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.16% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.16% in May
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.14% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.14% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.13% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.13% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in May
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.12% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.11% in May
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumPassage migrantUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.11% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in May
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in May
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.11% in May
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.10% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.10% in May
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.10% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.10% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.09% in May
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in May
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorCommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.08% in May
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in May
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentUncommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.07% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.06% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.05% in May
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in May
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.04% in May
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in May
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in May
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.03% in May
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorUncommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.02% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorRare31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosSummer visitorRare21–26 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.02% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.02% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorRare58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorRare36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.01% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.01% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentRare40–46 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in May
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in May
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusPassage migrantRare17–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraResidentRare36–43 cmRegularly Mar–May · 0.00% in May
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in May
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusScarceRare20–26 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · records held back in May (protected)
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