Birds to See in Mississippi in May
131 bird species on our list for Mississippi are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Northern Mockingbird, Mourning Dove and Red-bellied Woodpecker. New this month: Black Tern, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Willow Flycatcher and Hudsonian Godwit and 2 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Great Crested FlycatcherBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Prothonotary WarblerBusiest month of the year · Mar–Sep
Baltimore OrioleBusiest month of the year · Feb–Oct
Swainson's ThrushBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
BobolinkBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
White-rumped SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Apr–Jun
From Mississippi’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 131 birds in May
131 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.52% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.84% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.75% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.21% in May
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.19% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.03% in May- Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.92% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.51% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in May
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in May
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisResidentCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.85% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in May- Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.82% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · 0.70% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.41% in May
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.36% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.34% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.34% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentCommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentCommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in May
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorUncommon33–42 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.23% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.23% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May- Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.23% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.22% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaPassage migrantCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in May
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.17% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in May- Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in May
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in May- BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesResidentUncommon23–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May- White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.12% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.12% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.11% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensPassage migrantUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.07% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusResidentUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in May
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.06% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.05% in May
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentUncommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.04% in May
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.03% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in May
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiPassage migrantRare13–17 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.02% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in May
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in May
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaWinter visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in May
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaScarceRare36–42 cmRegularly May · 0.02% in May
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in May
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisWinter visitorUncommon20–24 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in May
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRegularly Jan–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