Birds to See in Louisiana in May
141 bird species on our list for Louisiana are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Northern Mockingbird, Mourning Dove and Red-winged Blackbird. New this month: Least Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and Mourning Warbler and 1 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Great Crested FlycatcherBusiest month of the year · Mar–Sep
Prothonotary WarblerBusiest month of the year · Mar–Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneBusiest month of the year · All year
Semipalmated SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
DickcisselBusiest month of the year · Apr–Nov
Bay-breasted WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
From Louisiana’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 141 birds in May
141 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.90% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.08% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.07% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.56% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.26% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in May- Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 1.75% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in May
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.40% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · 1.20% in May
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in May- Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.72% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in May
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisResidentCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.52% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.37% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorCommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.30% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.30% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.27% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentCommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
- Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.25% in May
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.25% in May- DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.24% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.23% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaPassage migrantCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.21% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in May- Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.20% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.18% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.17% in May
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.17% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.16% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorUncommon33–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.15% in May
Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolorSummer visitorUncommon45–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaPassage migrantCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in May
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.12% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.10% in May
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusWinter visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in May
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensPassage migrantUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.08% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.07% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.07% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% in May
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in May
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentUncommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.06% in May
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.04% in May
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.03% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.03% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentUncommon48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoSummer visitorUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in May
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in May
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in May
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in May
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisWinter visitorUncommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in May
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesResidentRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumPassage migrantUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataWinter visitorRare11–12 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusSummer visitorRare52–54 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.01% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentRare16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiPassage migrantRare13–17 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in May
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentRare110–142 cmRegularly Jan–Jul · 0.00% in May
Golden PheasantChrysolophus pictusScarceRare90–105 cmRegularly Mar–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