Birds to See in South Carolina in May
121 bird species on our list for South Carolina are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Mourning Dove, Tufted Titmouse, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Northern Mockingbird. New this month: Black Tern, Magnolia Warbler, Swainson's Thrush and Chestnut-sided Warbler and 6 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From South Carolina’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 121 birds in May
121 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.03% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.82% in May
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.74% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.30% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in May
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 2.13% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.07% in May
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.98% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.94% in May
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in May
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.49% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.43% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.37% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentCommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.27% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.26% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.26% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.21% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.21% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentCommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.17% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesResidentUncommon23–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusResidentUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in May
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorUncommon33–42 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.14% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantUncommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.11% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentUncommon48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in May
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaPassage migrantUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaWinter visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in May
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.08% in May
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentUncommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.07% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensPassage migrantUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.04% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in May
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentRare16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusWinter visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in May
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorRare28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.02% in May
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in May
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaWinter visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.02% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in May
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxSummer visitorRare54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.00% in May
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in May
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · records held back in May (protected)
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Oct–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