Birds to See in Massachusetts in May
148 bird species on our list for Massachusetts are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Song Sparrow and Gray Catbird. New this month: Gray Catbird, Baltimore Oriole, Common Yellowthroat and Ruby-throated Hummingbird and 39 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Northern Yellow WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Black-throated Green WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Scarlet TanagerBusiest month of the year · May–Sep
Magnolia WarblerBusiest month of the year · May–Jun
Blue-headed VireoBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
From Massachusetts’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 148 birds in May
148 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.31% in May
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.74% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.70% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.68% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Jan · 2.60% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.59% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 2.46% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.26% in May
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 2.08% in May
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.07% in May- Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.83% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.77% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.55% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in May
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.21% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.04% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.00% in May
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.98% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.92% in May
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in May- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.81% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.67% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.65% in May- Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.58% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May- Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.52% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.45% in May- Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.45% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May- Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.44% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.43% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.40% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.39% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorCommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.38% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.30% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.29% in May
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.27% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.26% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.26% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.23% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.21% in May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusResidentUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.17% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.16% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.15% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.14% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.14% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.11% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.11% in May
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.11% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.08% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.07% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.07% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.06% in May
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in May
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.06% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.03% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentRare58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentRare80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in May
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorUncommon41–46 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.00% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusWinter visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.00% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantRare16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorRare33–39 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorRare25–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisPassage migrantUncommon45–50 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.00% in May
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantRare18–23 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisPassage migrantRare46–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.00% in May
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentRare53–63 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 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