Birds to See in Minnesota in May
167 bird species on our list for Minnesota are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Blue Jay, Canada Goose and Mallard. New this month: Common Yellowthroat, Gray Catbird, Northern Yellow Warbler and Ruby-throated Hummingbird and 46 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Least FlycatcherBusiest month of the year · May–Sep
Swainson's ThrushBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
Northern WaterthrushBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Blackpoll WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
Cape May WarblerBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
Forster's TernBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
From Minnesota’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 167 birds in May
167 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.24% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 3.01% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.34% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.26% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.20% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 2.15% in May
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.10% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.80% in May
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.65% in May
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.64% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.52% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.47% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.39% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.36% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.26% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.21% in May
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.14% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.11% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.80% in May
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.79% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.79% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.79% in May- Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.77% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.75% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.73% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in May
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.65% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.63% in May
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.62% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.60% in May
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.56% in May- Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.52% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisSummer visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.51% in May
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.50% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisSummer visitorCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in May
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.46% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.44% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaWinter visitorCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.40% in May- Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.39% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.37% in May
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.36% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.35% in May
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May- Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.31% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorCommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.31% in May
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.29% in May
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.27% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.26% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.24% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.24% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.24% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.22% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.22% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.22% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPassage migrantCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.22% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.21% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.18% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.17% in May
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusWinter visitorCommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.14% in May
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.14% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.14% in May- Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.13% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.11% in May
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.11% in May- Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorUncommon16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.10% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.10% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in May
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.09% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in May
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in May
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.09% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.08% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.08% in May
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.07% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.07% in May
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.07% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.07% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.06% in May
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusPassage migrantUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.06% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in May
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.05% in May
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.04% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.04% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.03% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorRare58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.03% in May
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in May
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.03% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in May
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in May
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in May
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.02% in May
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorRare20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataPassage migrantRare53–69 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantRare40–46 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaPassage migrantRare58–74 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorSummer visitorUncommon140–160 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosPassage migrantRare21–26 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.01% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantRare20–32 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusPassage migrantRare17–18 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.00% in May
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in May
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorRare17–20 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.00% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusWinter visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in May
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraResidentRare36–43 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 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