Birds to See in New Mexico in May
150 bird species on our list for New Mexico are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are House Finch, Mourning Dove, White-winged Dove, American Robin and Common Raven. New this month: Clay-colored Sparrow, Willow Flycatcher, Black Tern and Least Flycatcher and 17 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Western KingbirdBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Common YellowthroatBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Common GrackleBusiest month of the year · Mar–Nov
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Swainson's ThrushBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
From New Mexico’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 150 birds in May
150 birds
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 3.39% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.84% in May
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in May
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in May- Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.72% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.63% in May
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosSummer visitorCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.35% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in May- Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.04% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.90% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in May
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisResidentCommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisWinter visitorCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in May
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.63% in May- Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.59% in May
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentCommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentCommon52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.35% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusResidentUncommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.27% in May
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraSummer visitorCommon36–43 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.27% in May
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaWinter visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.19% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May- Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.19% in May
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesResidentUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.17% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.17% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.14% in May
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in May
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.11% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentUncommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantUncommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisResidentUncommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorCommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in May- Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in May
- Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in May
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisResidentUncommon26–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.07% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisResidentUncommon19–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentUncommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorUncommon19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.05% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in May
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in May
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiResidentUncommon19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.04% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.04% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorRare33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusResidentUncommon21–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantRare17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Gila WoodpeckerMelanerpes uropygialisResidentRare20–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.02% in May
Flammulated OwlPsiloscops flammeolusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantRare10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantRare34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantRare10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Elf OwlMicrathene whitneyiSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.01% in May
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaPassage migrantRare12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentRare40–46 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Arizona WoodpeckerPicoides arizonaeSummer visitorRare19–21 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.01% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantRare14–14 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusResidentRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in May
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in May
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in May
Whiskered Screech-owlMegascops trichopsisSummer visitorRare18–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.00% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in May
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaPassage migrantRare16–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantRare16–20 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaWinter visitorRare63–73 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantRare11–12 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaPassage migrantRare17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in May
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusWinter visitorRare29–31 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorRare16–19 cmRegularly May–Jul · 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