Birds to See in Kentucky in May
132 bird species on our list for Kentucky are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, American Robin, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay and Tufted Titmouse. New this month: Magnolia Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Philadelphia Vireo and Semipalmated Sandpiper and 16 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Great Crested FlycatcherBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Baltimore OrioleBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Scarlet TanagerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Prothonotary WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
OvenbirdBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
From Kentucky’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
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.41% in May
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.17% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.42% in May
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.11% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.10% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.07% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.28% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in May- Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.21% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.05% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in May- Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.94% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.92% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.76% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.75% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.63% in May
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.60% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.60% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in May- Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.57% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May- Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.53% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.49% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.43% in May- Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.39% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.38% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May- OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.32% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.31% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.31% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.27% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.26% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantCommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.25% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.22% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in May
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.17% in May
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.17% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.16% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.16% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.15% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.14% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensPassage migrantUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.14% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.13% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.13% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.11% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.09% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.08% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.08% in May
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorRare11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in May
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.04% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantRare23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.03% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriWinter visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumPassage migrantRare13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.02% in May
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantRare22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataPassage migrantRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in May
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in May
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaSummer visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantRare31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in May
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorRare28–38 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.00% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorRare54–67 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in May
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in May
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantRare32–36 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in May
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.00% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentRare20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentRare40–46 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentRare41–50 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentRare63–73 cmRegularly Oct–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