Birds to See in North Dakota in May
159 bird species on our list for North Dakota are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, American Robin, Mourning Dove and Mallard. New this month: Barn Swallow, Northern Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat and Western Kingbird and 52 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Chipping SparrowBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Wilson's PhalaropeBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Tennessee WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
Rose-breasted GrosbeakBusiest month of the year · May–Sep
American AvocetBusiest month of the year · Apr–Nov
Blackpoll WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
From North Dakota’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
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 2.68% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.67% in May
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.67% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraSummer visitorCommon23–34 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.45% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.31% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisWinter visitorCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in May- Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.82% in May
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.68% in May
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorCommon16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.48% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.43% in May
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.29% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.26% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.22% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.20% in May
GadwallMareca streperaSummer visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.10% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosWinter visitorCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.93% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataPassage migrantCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.92% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaSummer visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.86% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in May
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.83% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.81% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisSummer visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.76% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataWinter visitorCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in May
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.67% in May- Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorCommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.65% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.64% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.63% in May
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.63% in May
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorCommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.62% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.60% in May- Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.60% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.60% in May- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.59% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.57% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPassage migrantCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.55% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorCommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.52% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.52% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoWinter visitorCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.51% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorCommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.50% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.48% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.48% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.45% in May- American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.45% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.44% in May
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.44% in May
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorCommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.43% in May- Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.42% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.40% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.40% in May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.38% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaWinter visitorCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.36% in May
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorCommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.35% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.34% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.32% in May
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.31% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.30% in May
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusSummer visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.29% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.29% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.29% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.28% in May
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisWinter visitorCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.27% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusWinter visitorCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.25% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.23% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May · 0.20% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.18% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in May
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.18% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.17% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in May
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorUncommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.17% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in May
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in May
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.16% in May
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumPassage migrantUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.15% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.14% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.14% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorCommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in May
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in May
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in May
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.12% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorCommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.10% in May
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensPassage migrantCommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.10% in May
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.10% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.10% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisSummer visitorUncommon16–21 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.09% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.08% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusPassage migrantUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.08% in May
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaSummer visitorUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.06% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.05% in May
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in May
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in May
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in May
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.04% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.04% in May
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorRare16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorSummer visitorUncommon139–157 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.04% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantRare11–12 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in May
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorUncommon19–25 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in May
Greater ScaupAythya marilaPassage migrantUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in May
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisPassage migrantUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaWinter visitorUncommon43–50 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraResidentRare36–43 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.01% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentRare40–46 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.01% in May
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentRare21–26 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.01% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.01% in May
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentRare23–26 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
American Black DuckAnas rubripesSummer visitorRare54–59 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentRare13–14 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRegularly Mar–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