60 birds were recorded seen in Maryland in May in our iNaturalist sample; 19 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.
Top birds in May
Canada Goose
American Robin
Red-winged Blackbird
Gray Catbird
Northern Cardinal
Great Blue Heron
Mallard
Eastern Bluebird
Osprey
Eastern Kingbird
House Sparrow
Mourning Dove
All birds seen in Maryland in May
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 1,794 | Apr (past peak) |
| 2 | American Robin | Turdus migratorius | Thrushes | 1,627 | Apr (past peak) |
| 3 | Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 1,624 | Apr (past peak) |
| 4 | Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 1,483 | May (peak) |
| 5 | Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | Cardinals and Allies | 1,473 | Apr (past peak) |
| 6 | Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 1,392 | May (peak) |
| 7 | Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 1,171 | Apr (past peak) |
| 8 | Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis | Thrushes | 1,157 | Apr (past peak) |
| 9 | Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | Ospreys | 1,075 | Apr (past peak) |
| 10 | Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | Tyrant Flycatchers | 903 | May (peak) |
| 11 | House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Old World Sparrows | 891 | Apr (past peak) |
| 12 | Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | Pigeons and Doves | 877 | Apr (past peak) |
| 13 | Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | Swallows and Martins | 851 | May (peak) |
| 14 | Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | New World Warblers | 794 | May (peak) |
| 15 | Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 776 | May (peak) |
| 16 | Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 749 | Apr (past peak) |
| 17 | Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | Crows, Jays, and Magpies | 738 | Apr (past peak) |
| 18 | Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | Cardinals and Allies | 727 | May (peak) |
| 19 | Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 709 | Apr (past peak) |
| 20 | Green Heron | Butorides virescens | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 708 | Aug (rising) |
| 21 | Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | New World Sparrows | 696 | Apr (past peak) |
| 22 | European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Starlings | 664 | Apr (past peak) |
| 23 | Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapilla | New World Warblers | 655 | May (peak) |
| 24 | Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 628 | Jan (past peak) |
| 25 | Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 615 | Apr (past peak) |
| 26 | House Finch | Haemorhous mexicanus | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 611 | Apr (past peak) |
| 27 | Carolina Wren | Thryothorus ludovicianus | Wrens | 609 | Apr (past peak) |
| 28 | Solitary Sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | Sandpipers and Allies | 592 | May (peak) |
| 29 | Great Crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus crinitus | Tyrant Flycatchers | 585 | May (peak) |
| 30 | Double-crested Cormorant | Nannopterum auritum | Cormorants and Shags | 585 | Apr (past peak) |
| 31 | American Goldfinch | Spinus tristis | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 582 | Apr (past peak) |
| 32 | Orchard Oriole | Icterus spurius | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 578 | May (peak) |
| 33 | Scarlet Tanager | Piranga olivacea | Cardinals and Allies | 535 | May (peak) |
| 34 | Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | Swallows and Martins | 535 | May (peak) |
| 35 | Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularius | Sandpipers and Allies | 529 | May (peak) |
| 36 | Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | New World Vultures | 525 | Apr (past peak) |
| 37 | Pileated Woodpecker | Dryocopus pileatus | Woodpeckers | 524 | Apr (past peak) |
| 38 | Cedar Waxwing | Bombycilla cedrorum | Waxwings | 510 | May (peak) |
| 39 | American Redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | New World Warblers | 507 | May (peak) |
| 40 | Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis | 497 | May (peak) |
| 41 | Red-bellied Woodpecker | Melanerpes carolinus | Woodpeckers | 479 | Apr (past peak) |
| 42 | Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 465 | Apr (past peak) |
| 43 | Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | Tyrant Flycatchers | 460 | Oct (rising) |
| 44 | Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 458 | Jan (past peak) |
| 45 | Brown Thrasher | Toxostoma rufum | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 410 | Apr (past peak) |
| 46 | Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | New World Warblers | 405 | May (peak) |
| 47 | Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | New World Vultures | 404 | Apr (past peak) |
| 48 | Black-crowned Night Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 399 | May (peak) |
| 49 | Downy Woodpecker | Dryobates pubescens | Woodpeckers | 390 | Jan (past peak) |
| 50 | Tufted Titmouse | Baeolophus bicolor | Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice | 389 | Apr (past peak) |