Birds to See in Washington in May
158 bird species on our list for Washington are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Song Sparrow, American Crow, Common Starling and Red-winged Blackbird. New this month: Cedar Waxwing, Swainson's Thrush, Northern Yellow Warbler and Willow Flycatcher and 24 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Orange-crowned WarblerBusiest month of the year · All year
Cinnamon TealBusiest month of the year · Jan
Western KingbirdBusiest month of the year · Apr–Aug
Evening GrosbeakBusiest month of the year · All year
Nashville WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
WhimbrelBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
From Washington’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 158 birds in May
158 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.88% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.92% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.77% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.82% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.52% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in May
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.13% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.92% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in May- Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.77% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.69% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.67% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.67% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in May
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentCommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.49% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentUncommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusResidentCommon8–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May- Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraSummer visitorUncommon36–43 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.33% in May
Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruberResidentUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May- Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorUncommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.32% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsResidentCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May- Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaSummer visitorUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.27% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.27% in May- Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.25% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.19% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · 0.18% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.17% in May
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.16% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.16% in May
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantCommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.16% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.14% in May
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisResidentUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May- WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.11% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.09% in May
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusWinter visitorCommon20–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.09% in May
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorUncommon58–74 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in May
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisSummer visitorUncommon26–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.07% in May
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.06% in May
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentUncommon58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorUncommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in May
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in May
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in May
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorCommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in May
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in May
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.04% in May
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in May
White-headed WoodpeckerPicoides albolarvatusResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.03% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorRare33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in May
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in May
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in May
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in May
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantUncommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentRare58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusSummer visitorRare21–25 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.02% in May
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSummer visitorRare18–21 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in May
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantUncommon27–33 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in May
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorUncommon45–50 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.01% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentRare28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorRare22–26 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorRare32–36 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.01% in May
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiResidentRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
Flammulated OwlPsiloscops flammeolusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.01% in May
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorRare19–25 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.01% in May
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantUncommon20–22 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusResidentRare20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.01% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaPassage migrantUncommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataWinter visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorRare37–41 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorRare16–20 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.00% in May
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorRare30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.00% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisResidentRare12–15 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.00% in May
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.00% in May
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in May
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in May
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosWinter visitorRare21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantRare34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataPassage migrantRare41–49 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.00% in May
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorRare18–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusSummer visitorRare86–230 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Jul–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