Birds to See in New Hampshire in May
147 bird species on our list for New Hampshire are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Blue Jay, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird and Northern Cardinal. New this month: Gray Catbird, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Common Yellowthroat and Ovenbird and 48 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Rose-breasted GrosbeakBusiest month of the year · May–Sep
Black-throated Green WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Least FlycatcherBusiest month of the year · May–Sep
Nashville WarblerBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
Northern WaterthrushBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Virginia RailBusiest month of the year · Apr–Nov
From New Hampshire’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 147 birds in May
147 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.02% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.62% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.58% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.35% in May
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 2.12% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 2.08% in May
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.72% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.68% in May
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.59% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in May
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.43% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.35% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in May
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.25% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.05% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.02% in May- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.99% in May
- Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.97% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusSummer visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.86% in May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorCommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in May
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.83% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.76% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.74% in May
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.71% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in May
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.66% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in May
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.63% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.61% in May- Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.60% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorCommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.57% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.56% in May
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.54% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.52% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.46% in May
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.44% in May
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May- Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.36% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.35% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May- Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.32% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.28% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.26% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.22% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.19% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.19% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.17% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.16% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPassage migrantCommon15–16 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.16% in May
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.11% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.11% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaSummer visitorUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusSummer visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May- Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.10% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in May
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.08% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.08% in May
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.07% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.05% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.05% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentUncommon30–32 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.05% in May
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in May
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.04% in May
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusPassage migrantUncommon87–100 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.04% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.04% in May
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.03% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in May
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.03% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaPassage migrantCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorRare18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.02% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorRare17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.02% in May
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantRare55–66 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in May
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisPassage migrantUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisPassage migrantRare45–50 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.01% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorRare80–122 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.00% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in May
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.00% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.00% in May
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaScarceRare13–14 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorRare16–25 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorRare33–39 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in May
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorRare40–51 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantRare22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 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