Birds to See in Texas in May
176 bird species on our list for Texas are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, Mourning Dove, White-winged Dove and Turkey Vulture. New this month: Mourning Warbler, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher and Alder Flycatcher and 2 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Great Crested FlycatcherBusiest month of the year · Mar–Sep
DickcisselBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Chestnut-sided WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Bay-breasted WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Wilson's PhalaropeBusiest month of the year · Mar–Nov
White-rumped SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Apr–Jun
From Texas’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 176 birds in May
176 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.55% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.98% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.50% in May
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.83% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in May
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.43% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in May
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.22% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · 0.98% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in May
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.86% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in May- Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.78% in May
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in May
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaPassage migrantCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.70% in May- DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.67% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in May
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisResidentCommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
Golden-fronted WoodpeckerMelanerpes aurifronsResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.53% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.46% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.46% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.45% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.42% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.38% in May
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaPassage migrantCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.31% in May- Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.31% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.30% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensWinter visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.26% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.24% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.23% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentCommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentUncommon52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaWinter visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.23% in May
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantUncommon18–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.21% in May- Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.19% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May- Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.16% in May
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.16% in May- White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.15% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.15% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.15% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusWinter visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.14% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in May
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.13% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.13% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.13% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.13% in May
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.13% in May
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.11% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.11% in May
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.11% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusWinter visitorCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.10% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.09% in May
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.09% in May
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.09% in May
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.08% in May
Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusSummer visitorUncommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.08% in May
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.08% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.08% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolorResidentUncommon45–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.07% in May
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentUncommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaPassage migrantUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.07% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.07% in May
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorUncommon33–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensPassage migrantUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.06% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.05% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiPassage migrantUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorUncommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusWinter visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.04% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in May
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in May
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in May
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaWinter visitorUncommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumPassage migrantUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in May
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.03% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.03% in May
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantRare16–20 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.03% in May
Elf OwlMicrathene whitneyiSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.03% in May
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaResidentUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in May
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaResidentRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentRare18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraWinter visitorUncommon36–43 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in May
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorRare48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in May
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiSummer visitorRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesResidentRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensWinter visitorRare11–13 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Ferruginous Pygmy-owlGlaucidium brasilianumWinter visitorRare15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in May
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusSummer visitorRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in May
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorRare39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.00% in May
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisSummer visitorRare53–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in May
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentRare66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Flammulated OwlPsiloscops flammeolusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in May
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorRare46–51 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.00% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Feb–Jun · 0.00% in May
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.00% in May
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusSummer visitorRare18–20 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.00% in May
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusPassage migrantRare17–21 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.00% in May
Red JunglefowlGallus gallusResidentRare42–75 cmRecorded all year · 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