60 birds were recorded seen in Michigan in May in our iNaturalist sample; 24 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.
Top birds in May
Baltimore Oriole
Canada Goose
American Robin
Red-winged Blackbird
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Mallard
Sandhill Crane
Northern Yellow Warbler
American Redstart
Wild Turkey
Blue Jay
Great Blue Heron
All birds seen in Michigan in May
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 1,647 | May (peak) |
| 2 | Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 1,609 | Apr (past peak) |
| 3 | American Robin | Turdus migratorius | Thrushes | 1,605 | Apr (past peak) |
| 4 | Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 1,527 | Apr (past peak) |
| 5 | Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | Cardinals and Allies | 1,250 | May (peak) |
| 6 | Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 1,143 | Apr (past peak) |
| 7 | Sandhill Crane | Antigone canadensis | Cranes | 803 | May (peak) |
| 8 | Northern Yellow Warbler | Setophaga aestiva | New World Warblers | 760 | May (peak) |
| 9 | American Redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | New World Warblers | 700 | May (peak) |
| 10 | Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies | 688 | Apr (past peak) |
| 11 | Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | Crows, Jays, and Magpies | 678 | May (peak) |
| 12 | Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 662 | Aug (rising) |
| 13 | Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | Cardinals and Allies | 651 | Apr (past peak) |
| 14 | Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | Swallows and Martins | 635 | May (peak) |
| 15 | Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | Plovers and Lapwings | 622 | May (peak) |
| 16 | White-crowned Sparrow | Zonotrichia leucophrys | New World Sparrows | 589 | May (peak) |
| 17 | American Goldfinch | Spinus tristis | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 569 | Aug (rising) |
| 18 | Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 566 | May (peak) |
| 19 | Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | New World Sparrows | 549 | May (peak) |
| 20 | Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | Tyrant Flycatchers | 531 | May (peak) |
| 21 | Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | Pigeons and Doves | 529 | Apr (past peak) |
| 22 | Mute Swan | Cygnus olor | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 526 | May (peak) |
| 23 | Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 523 | Apr (past peak) |
| 24 | Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 490 | May (peak) |
| 25 | Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | New World Sparrows | 456 | May (peak) |
| 26 | Scarlet Tanager | Piranga olivacea | Cardinals and Allies | 450 | May (peak) |
| 27 | House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Old World Sparrows | 446 | Apr (past peak) |
| 28 | Red-bellied Woodpecker | Melanerpes carolinus | Woodpeckers | 444 | May (peak) |
| 29 | Black-capped Chickadee | Poecile atricapillus | Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice | 443 | Apr (past peak) |
| 30 | Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 426 | Apr (past peak) |
| 31 | Common Merganser | Mergus merganser | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 396 | May (peak) |
| 32 | Pileated Woodpecker | Dryocopus pileatus | Woodpeckers | 378 | May (peak) |
| 33 | Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | Cardinals and Allies | 374 | May (peak) |
| 34 | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Archilochus colubris | Hummingbirds | 366 | Aug (rising) |
| 35 | Yellow-rumped Warbler | Setophaga coronata | New World Warblers | 364 | Apr (past peak) |
| 36 | Northern Flicker | Colaptes auratus | Woodpeckers | 359 | Apr (past peak) |
| 37 | Palm Warbler | Setophaga palmarum | New World Warblers | 357 | May (peak) |
| 38 | House Finch | Haemorhous mexicanus | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 353 | May (peak) |
| 39 | Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 352 | Apr (past peak) |
| 40 | Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | New World Vultures | 345 | Apr (past peak) |
| 41 | Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis | Thrushes | 341 | Apr (past peak) |
| 42 | Downy Woodpecker | Dryobates pubescens | Woodpeckers | 335 | Apr (past peak) |
| 43 | Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | Swallows and Martins | 332 | May (peak) |
| 44 | Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | New World Warblers | 319 | May (peak) |
| 45 | European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Starlings | 302 | Apr (past peak) |
| 46 | Common Loon | Gavia immer | Loons | 298 | Jun (rising) |
| 47 | Ring-billed Gull | Larus delawarensis | Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers | 297 | Jul (rising) |
| 48 | Trumpeter Swan | Cygnus buccinator | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 291 | Jun (rising) |
| 49 | Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | Tyrant Flycatchers | 285 | Apr (past peak) |
| 50 | Great Egret | Ardea alba | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 280 | Aug (rising) |