Birds to See in New York in May
159 bird species on our list for New York are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Cardinal, Gray Catbird and Blue Jay. New this month: Common Yellowthroat, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, American Redstart and Great Crested Flycatcher and 38 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Northern Yellow WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Baltimore OrioleBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
OvenbirdBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Blue-headed VireoBusiest month of the year · Apr–Nov
From New York’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 159 birds in May
159 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.34% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.78% in May
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.62% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 2.52% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.32% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in May- Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 2.02% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in May- Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.87% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.70% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.39% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in May
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.17% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.16% in May- OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.09% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in May- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.96% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in May
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.88% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in May
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.63% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.62% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.61% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.60% in May
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in May- Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.58% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.55% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.52% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.49% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.49% in May
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May- Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.44% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.39% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.39% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.39% in May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusResidentCommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.36% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.31% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.29% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.25% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.25% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.24% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.24% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.22% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.20% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.19% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.18% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.17% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.16% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.13% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.12% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.12% in May
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.10% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in May
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in May
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.07% in May
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.07% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.06% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.06% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.06% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.05% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentRare19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.03% in May
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in May
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.02% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in May
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisWinter visitorRare12–13 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.01% in May
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorRare40–51 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorRare33–42 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in May
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in May
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorRare33–39 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.00% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisPassage migrantRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in May
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.00% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantRare20–32 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantRare32–36 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusSummer visitorRare18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 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