Birds to See in Oklahoma in May
152 bird species on our list for Oklahoma are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Mourning Dove, American Crow, Common Starling and Turkey Vulture. New this month: Black Tern, Mourning Warbler, Alder Flycatcher and Bobolink and 10 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Great Crested FlycatcherBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Jun
Baltimore OrioleBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Common YellowthroatBusiest month of the year · All year
Prothonotary WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Wilson's PhalaropeBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
From Oklahoma’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 152 birds in May
152 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.45% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.59% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.03% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in May
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.81% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in May
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in May
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in May- Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.54% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.51% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in May
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.25% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in May
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.15% in May- Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaPassage migrantCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.07% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May- Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.95% in May
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.93% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.90% in May
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.86% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.84% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.83% in May
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.77% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.73% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in May- Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.45% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.45% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.43% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantCommon32–36 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.37% in May
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May- Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.36% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.31% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.30% in May
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.23% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.23% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.21% in May- Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.21% in May
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentCommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.20% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.19% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.19% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.19% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.18% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.18% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.17% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.16% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.14% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.13% in May
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantUncommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.13% in May
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.12% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.12% in May
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.12% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in May
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.10% in May
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumPassage migrantUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.10% in May
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentUncommon52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.09% in May
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May · 0.08% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in May
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.07% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.07% in May
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.07% in May
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.06% in May
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusPassage migrantCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.06% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataPassage migrantUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiPassage migrantRare13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in May
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantRare10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in May
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisResidentUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in May
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in May
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorUncommon19–25 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.04% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in May
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorRare16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.03% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusPassage migrantUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.03% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantRare16–17 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.03% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorRare16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in May
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentRare40–46 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.02% in May
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in May
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesResidentRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentRare16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantRare14–14 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Golden-fronted WoodpeckerMelanerpes aurifronsResidentRare21–26 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Dec–May · 0.01% in May
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentRare20–23 cmRegularly Mar–May · 0.01% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensPassage migrantRare16–19 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraPassage migrantUncommon36–43 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.01% in May
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiResidentRare19–25 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in May
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusPassage migrantRare17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.00% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantRare23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.00% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorRare140–160 cmRegularly Dec–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