Birds to See in Tennessee in May
135 bird species on our list for Tennessee are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, American Robin, Tufted Titmouse, Mourning Dove and Blue Jay. New this month: Magnolia Warbler, Black Tern, Willow Flycatcher and Sanderling and 8 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Great Crested FlycatcherBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Scarlet TanagerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Prothonotary WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Baltimore OrioleBusiest month of the year · Jan
OvenbirdBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
From Tennessee’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 135 birds in May
135 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.54% in May
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in May
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.49% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.32% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.24% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.10% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.03% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 1.27% in May- Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.19% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.88% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.86% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.69% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in May- Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.65% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.58% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May- Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.56% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.49% in May
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.49% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.45% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.44% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.38% in May- Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.38% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.37% in May- Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.33% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.32% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.31% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.30% in May- OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.30% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantCommon14–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.27% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.27% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.25% in May
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.24% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.21% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.17% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.13% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in May
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.08% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.04% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriWinter visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.03% in May
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantRare23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorRare20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.02% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in May
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorRare34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantRare31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisSummer visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataPassage migrantRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusPassage migrantRare58–85 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in May
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in May
Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolorSummer visitorRare45–53 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.00% in May
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in May
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaSummer visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.00% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentRare40–46 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusSummer visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 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