Birds to See in Maryland in May
136 bird species on our list for Maryland are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, American Robin, Mourning Dove, Gray Catbird and Blue Jay. New this month: Magnolia Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler and Cape May Warbler and 20 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Great Crested FlycatcherBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Common YellowthroatBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Baltimore OrioleBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
OvenbirdBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Scarlet TanagerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Northern Yellow WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
From Maryland’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 136 birds in May
136 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.35% in May
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.64% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.35% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 2.26% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in May
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in May- Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.61% in May
- Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.57% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.28% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in May
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in May- Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.93% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.89% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.88% in May- OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.86% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in May- Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.78% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in May- Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.66% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.64% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.52% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.47% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.42% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.31% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.29% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.26% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.26% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.26% in May
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorUncommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in May
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.23% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.19% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.17% in May
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.16% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.16% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.15% in May
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in May
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.11% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.11% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.09% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.08% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.07% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.05% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in May
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in May
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.02% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentRare139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.01% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorRare17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.00% in May
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusPassage migrantRare28–38 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorRare43–51 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.00% in May
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorRare80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantRare40–51 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.00% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in May
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorRare81–94 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in May
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorRare33–42 cmRegularly May–Aug · 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