Birds to See in Pennsylvania in May
147 bird species on our list for Pennsylvania are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Northern Cardinal, Gray Catbird, Song Sparrow and Blue Jay. New this month: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, American Redstart, Magnolia Warbler and Scarlet Tanager and 35 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Baltimore OrioleBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Great Crested FlycatcherBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Blackpoll WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
From Pennsylvania’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 · 3.59% in May
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.04% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.91% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.62% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.59% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.36% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in May- Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.78% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in May
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.66% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.58% in May- Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.49% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in May
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.21% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.18% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.07% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in May- Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.91% in May
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.90% in May- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.75% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.73% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.62% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.55% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.49% in May
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May- Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.44% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.41% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.35% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.34% in May
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in May- Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.31% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.24% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.24% in May
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.22% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.20% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.20% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.18% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.17% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.17% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.12% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.10% in May
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.07% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.05% in May
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.05% in May
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.04% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.03% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in May
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorUncommon50–90 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.02% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusPassage migrantRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorRare31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriPassage migrantRare33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.01% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantRare23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorRare22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentRare139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorRare17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in May
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.00% in May
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaResidentRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentRare30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in May
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.00% in May
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorRare11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in May
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaScarceRare58–74 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in May
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.00% in May
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantRare55–66 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.00% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Nov–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