Birds to See in Montana in May
166 bird species on our list for Montana are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Canada Goose, Mallard and Common Starling. New this month: Cedar Waxwing, Northern Yellow Warbler, Chipping Sparrow and Swainson's Thrush and 57 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Montana’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 166 birds in May
166 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusSummer visitorCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.63% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.94% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.34% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in May
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorCommon16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.86% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.66% in May
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.54% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraSummer visitorCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.19% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 1.02% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.00% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.90% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.87% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.82% in May
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraSummer visitorCommon36–43 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.81% in May
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.80% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.77% in May
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.65% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.65% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.62% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.61% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisSummer visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.52% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.46% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.45% in May
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.44% in May
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.44% in May
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.43% in May
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisSummer visitorCommon19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.43% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.40% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.35% in May
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.34% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.34% in May
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.32% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.31% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.30% in May
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.29% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.27% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.26% in May
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoWinter visitorCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.23% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.22% in May
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.21% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.19% in May
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.18% in May
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.18% in May
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisResidentUncommon26–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataWinter visitorCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in May
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentCommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorCommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.15% in May
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.14% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.14% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorCommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.09% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in May
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in May
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.09% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.08% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusResidentUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.06% in May
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensPassage migrantCommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaSummer visitorUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in May
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusSummer visitorUncommon8–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusPassage migrantUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.05% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in May
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.04% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorUncommon19–25 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in May
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorRare18–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in May
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusSummer visitorUncommon20–26 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.04% in May
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorRare18–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaSummer visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.03% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantUncommon34–44 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.02% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentRare40–46 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.01% in May
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorRare17–18 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.01% in May
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantRare16–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantRare16–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentRare43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantRare23–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioSummer visitorRare16–25 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.00% in May
ChukarAlectoris chukarWinter visitorRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisSummer visitorRare16–21 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Flammulated OwlPsiloscops flammeolusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.00% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorRare80–104 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantRare10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiSummer visitorRare19–25 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.00% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusScarceRare23–26 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantRare14–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosSummer visitorRare21–26 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusResidentRare12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantRare11–12 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisPassage migrantRare7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusPassage migrantRare140–165 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.00% in May
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusSummer visitorRare21–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 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