Birds in California in May: What to Photograph (60 Species)

60 birds were recorded seen in California in May in our iNaturalist sample; 4 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Top birds in May

Mallard10,003 obs.

House Finch9,942 obs.

California Scrub-Jay7,451 obs.

California Towhee7,449 obs.

Canada Goose7,243 obs.

Red-tailed Hawk7,215 obs.

Anna's Hummingbird7,123 obs.

Western Bluebird6,655 obs.

Mourning Dove6,649 obs.

Dark-eyed Junco6,506 obs.

Black Phoebe6,479 obs.

Lesser Goldfinch6,356 obs.

All birds seen in California in May

#	Species	Scientific name	Family	Obs.	Peak in state
1	Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	10,003	Apr (past peak)
2	House Finch	Haemorhous mexicanus	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	9,942	Apr (past peak)
3	California Scrub-Jay	Aphelocoma californica	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	7,451	Apr (past peak)
4	California Towhee	Melozone crissalis	New World Sparrows	7,449	Apr (past peak)
5	Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	7,243	Apr (past peak)
6	Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	7,215	Jan (past peak)
7	Anna's Hummingbird	Calypte anna	Hummingbirds	7,123	Apr (past peak)
8	Western Bluebird	Sialia mexicana	Thrushes	6,655	Apr (past peak)
9	Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura	Pigeons and Doves	6,649	Apr (past peak)
10	Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	New World Sparrows	6,506	Apr (past peak)
11	Black Phoebe	Sayornis nigricans	Tyrant Flycatchers	6,479	Apr (past peak)
12	Lesser Goldfinch	Spinus psaltria	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	6,356	Apr (past peak)
13	Song Sparrow	Melospiza melodia	New World Sparrows	5,896	Apr (past peak)
14	Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	5,890	Jan (past peak)
15	Black-crowned Night Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	5,655	Apr (past peak)
16	Western Gull	Larus occidentalis	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	5,120	Aug (rising)
17	Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos	Mockingbirds and Thrashers	4,822	Apr (past peak)
18	California Quail	Callipepla californica	New World Quails	4,719	Apr (past peak)
19	Acorn Woodpecker	Melanerpes formicivorus	Woodpeckers	4,603	Apr (past peak)
20	Spotted Towhee	Pipilo maculatus	New World Sparrows	4,383	May (peak)
21	Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura	New World Vultures	4,380	Apr (past peak)
22	Red-winged Blackbird	Agelaius phoeniceus	New World Blackbirds and Orioles	4,371	Apr (past peak)
23	Snowy Egret	Egretta thula	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	4,287	Jan (past peak)
24	American Crow	Corvus brachyrhynchos	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	4,273	Apr (past peak)
25	House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Old World Sparrows	4,091	Apr (past peak)
26	Brown Pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis	Pelicans	3,958	Sep (rising)
27	Wild Turkey	Meleagris gallopavo	Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies	3,941	Apr (past peak)
28	Hooded Oriole	Icterus cucullatus	New World Blackbirds and Orioles	3,893	Apr (past peak)
29	American Robin	Turdus migratorius	Thrushes	3,842	Apr (past peak)
30	Common Raven	Corvus corax	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	3,621	Apr (past peak)
31	Black-headed Grosbeak	Pheucticus melanocephalus	Cardinals and Allies	3,428	Apr (past peak)
32	Ash-throated Flycatcher	Myiarchus cinerascens	Tyrant Flycatchers	3,272	May (peak)
33	Great Egret	Ardea alba	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	3,267	Jan (past peak)
34	Bushtit	Psaltriparus minimus	Long-tailed Tits and Bushtits	3,129	Apr (past peak)
35	Great Horned Owl	Bubo virginianus	Typical Owls	3,082	Apr (past peak)
36	Western Tanager	Piranga ludoviciana	Cardinals and Allies	3,065	May (peak)
37	Steller's Jay	Cyanocitta stelleri	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	3,037	Jul (rising)
38	Red-shouldered Hawk	Buteo lineatus	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	2,960	Jan (past peak)
39	Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus	Plovers and Lapwings	2,791	Apr (past peak)
40	Double-crested Cormorant	Nannopterum auritum	Cormorants and Shags	2,747	Jan (past peak)
41	Brewer's Blackbird	Euphagus cyanocephalus	New World Blackbirds and Orioles	2,534	Apr (past peak)
42	Cliff Swallow	Petrochelidon pyrrhonota	Swallows and Martins	2,524	Apr (past peak)
43	European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	Starlings	2,520	Apr (past peak)
44	Allen's Hummingbird	Selasphorus sasin	Hummingbirds	2,488	Apr (past peak)
45	Western Kingbird	Tyrannus verticalis	Tyrant Flycatchers	2,335	Apr (past peak)
46	Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica	Swallows and Martins	2,298	May (peak)
47	Tree Swallow	Tachycineta bicolor	Swallows and Martins	2,296	Apr (past peak)
48	Cooper's Hawk	Astur cooperii	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	2,256	Jul (rising)
49	Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus	New World Blackbirds and Orioles	2,068	Apr (past peak)
50	Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	Ospreys	2,041	Jul (rising)

Birds Seen in California in May

Top birds in May

All birds seen in California in May