Birds to See in South Dakota in May
161 bird species on our list for South Dakota are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Red-winged Blackbird, American Robin, Common Grackle, Mourning Dove and Western Meadowlark. New this month: Northern Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Red-headed Woodpecker and Dickcissel and 43 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Chipping SparrowBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Clay-colored SparrowBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakBusiest month of the year · May–Sep
Wilson's PhalaropeBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Tennessee WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
Forster's TernBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
From South 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 161 birds in May
161 birds
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.30% in May
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.18% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 3.04% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraSummer visitorCommon23–34 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 2.66% in May
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorCommon16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 2.10% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.79% in May
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.70% in May- Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.60% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.26% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.08% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 1.06% in May
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.01% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.93% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.85% in May
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.79% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.77% in May- Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.72% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.70% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in May
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.65% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorCommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.63% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.57% in May- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.57% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.55% in May- Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorCommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.53% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaSummer visitorCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in May
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.48% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusWinter visitorCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPassage migrantCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.45% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorCommon28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.44% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.41% in May- Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.40% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.39% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.37% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorCommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.35% in May
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.34% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May- Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.30% in May
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in May
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.29% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.29% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.29% in May
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorCommon32–36 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.28% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.28% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.26% in May
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.25% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in May
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorUncommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.22% in May
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.22% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.22% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.21% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorUncommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.21% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.20% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.19% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.19% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.19% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.19% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.17% in May
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in May
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisSummer visitorUncommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.14% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.14% in May
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in May
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in May
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.12% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorCommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.12% in May
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.11% in May
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorUncommon19–25 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.10% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.10% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.09% in May
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in May
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in May
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.09% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in May
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorCommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May · 0.07% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in May
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumPassage migrantUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.07% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in May
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.06% in May
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.04% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.04% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorRare31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantRare14–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.03% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantRare23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.03% in May
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusPassage migrantUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in May
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisSummer visitorUncommon26–28 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.03% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantRare11–12 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusPassage migrantUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.02% in May
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraSummer visitorRare36–43 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly May · 0.02% in May
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosSummer visitorRare21–26 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.01% in May
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.01% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaSummer visitorRare43–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.01% in May
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.01% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentRare28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in May
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentRare40–46 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentRare54–67 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in May
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusSummer visitorRare8–12 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.00% in May
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentRare27–30 cmRegularly May–Jun · 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