Birds to See in Vermont in May
127 bird species on our list for Vermont are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Blue Jay and American Crow. New this month: Common Yellowthroat, Gray Catbird, Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Ovenbird and 40 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Baltimore OrioleBusiest month of the year · May–Aug
Rose-breasted GrosbeakBusiest month of the year · May–Sep
Swamp SparrowBusiest month of the year · Apr–Nov
Blue-headed VireoBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Least FlycatcherBusiest month of the year · May–Sep
Nashville WarblerBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
From Vermont’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 127 birds in May
127 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.52% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.10% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 2.85% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.68% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.57% in May
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.99% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.97% in May
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.87% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.73% in May
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.69% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisSummer visitorCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.62% in May
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.36% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.30% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.26% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in May- Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Aug · 1.15% in May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 1.09% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusSummer visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.95% in May- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.92% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.91% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.91% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in May- Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.84% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.82% in May- Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.76% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.76% in May- Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.75% in May
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.71% in May
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.68% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.66% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.59% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.53% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.52% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.49% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.49% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.47% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.39% in May- Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.39% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.36% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.35% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.35% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaWinter visitorCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPassage migrantCommon15–16 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.27% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.25% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.23% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.20% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.16% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in May
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.10% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in May
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusSummer visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in May
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.06% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentUncommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.05% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.04% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaPassage migrantUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.03% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.03% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorRare22–26 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorRare80–122 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
GadwallMareca streperaPassage migrantUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaPassage migrantUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataPassage migrantUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantRare23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusPassage migrantRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.00% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in May
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantRare11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisPassage migrantRare35–43 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.00% in May
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentRare139–157 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentRare46–56 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.00% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentRare19–23 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