Birds to See in West Virginia in May
122 bird species on our list for West Virginia are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Song Sparrow and American Crow. New this month: Cedar Waxwing, Magnolia Warbler, Cape May Warbler and Swainson's Thrush and 20 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Scarlet TanagerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Baltimore OrioleBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
American RedstartBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Northern Yellow WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Aug
Great Crested FlycatcherBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
From West Virginia’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 122 birds in May
122 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.36% in May
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.87% in May
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.42% in May
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.31% in May
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in May
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in May
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in May
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in May
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in May
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.82% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in May
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in May
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.63% in May
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in May- Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.37% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in May
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in May
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in May- Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.16% in May
- American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.16% in May
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in May
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.09% in May
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.07% in May
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.07% in May- Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.06% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in May
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in May
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in May- Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.90% in May
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.81% in May
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.78% in May
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.77% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in May
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.69% in May- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.64% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosWinter visitorCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in May
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in May
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.43% in May
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.43% in May
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.37% in May
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.36% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.25% in May
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in May
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.20% in May
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in May
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in May
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.19% in May
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.18% in May
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.18% in May
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in May
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.16% in May
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.16% in May
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.15% in May
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in May
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in May
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantCommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.12% in May
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in May
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in May
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.09% in May
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in May
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in May
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.06% in May
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in May
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.06% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.05% in May
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in May
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.03% in May
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorUncommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.02% in May
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.02% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in May
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in May
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in May
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentRare33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantRare23–32 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentRare27–30 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantRare19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.00% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantRare16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.00% in May
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in May
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusSummer visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in May
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.00% in May
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentRare58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in May
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentRare80–122 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.00% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantRare31–35 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentRare139–157 cmRegularly Feb–Jun · records held back in May (protected)
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.00% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoSummer visitorRare30–32 cmRegularly Jan–Aug · 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