60 birds were recorded seen in Minnesota in May in our iNaturalist sample; 26 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.
Top birds in May
Red-winged Blackbird
Mallard
Canada Goose
American Robin
Baltimore Oriole
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
American Goldfinch
Northern Yellow Warbler
American Redstart
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Song Sparrow
Gray Catbird
All birds seen in Minnesota in May
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 2,035 | May (peak) |
| 2 | Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 1,743 | Apr (past peak) |
| 3 | Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 1,690 | Apr (past peak) |
| 4 | American Robin | Turdus migratorius | Thrushes | 1,592 | Apr (past peak) |
| 5 | Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 1,567 | May (peak) |
| 6 | Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | Cardinals and Allies | 1,207 | May (peak) |
| 7 | American Goldfinch | Spinus tristis | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 1,091 | May (peak) |
| 8 | Northern Yellow Warbler | Setophaga aestiva | New World Warblers | 964 | May (peak) |
| 9 | American Redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | New World Warblers | 949 | May (peak) |
| 10 | Yellow-rumped Warbler | Setophaga coronata | New World Warblers | 890 | Apr (past peak) |
| 11 | Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | New World Sparrows | 885 | Apr (past peak) |
| 12 | Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 876 | May (peak) |
| 13 | Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 855 | May (peak) |
| 14 | Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies | 819 | Apr (past peak) |
| 15 | Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | Cardinals and Allies | 819 | Apr (past peak) |
| 16 | Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | New World Sparrows | 807 | May (peak) |
| 17 | Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 789 | Apr (past peak) |
| 18 | Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 786 | Apr (past peak) |
| 19 | Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | Swallows and Martins | 738 | May (peak) |
| 20 | Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 701 | Apr (past peak) |
| 21 | Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | Crows, Jays, and Magpies | 668 | May (peak) |
| 22 | Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 667 | Apr (past peak) |
| 23 | White-throated Sparrow | Zonotrichia albicollis | New World Sparrows | 641 | Apr (past peak) |
| 24 | Trumpeter Swan | Cygnus buccinator | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 614 | Apr (past peak) |
| 25 | Palm Warbler | Setophaga palmarum | New World Warblers | 591 | May (peak) |
| 26 | Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | Tyrant Flycatchers | 586 | May (peak) |
| 27 | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Archilochus colubris | Hummingbirds | 579 | Sep (rising) |
| 28 | House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Old World Sparrows | 543 | May (peak) |
| 29 | Black-capped Chickadee | Poecile atricapillus | Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice | 540 | Apr (past peak) |
| 30 | Downy Woodpecker | Dryobates pubescens | Woodpeckers | 506 | Apr (past peak) |
| 31 | Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | New World Warblers | 496 | May (peak) |
| 32 | Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis | Thrushes | 495 | May (peak) |
| 33 | Swainson's Thrush | Catharus ustulatus | Thrushes | 482 | May (peak) |
| 34 | Scarlet Tanager | Piranga olivacea | Cardinals and Allies | 479 | May (peak) |
| 35 | Blue-winged Teal | Spatula discors | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 478 | Apr (past peak) |
| 36 | Sandhill Crane | Antigone canadensis | Cranes | 474 | Apr (past peak) |
| 37 | Tennessee Warbler | Leiothlypis peregrina | New World Warblers | 474 | May (peak) |
| 38 | Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | Pigeons and Doves | 471 | May (peak) |
| 39 | Common Loon | Gavia immer | Loons | 470 | Jul (rising) |
| 40 | House Finch | Haemorhous mexicanus | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 462 | Apr (past peak) |
| 41 | Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | Cardinals and Allies | 436 | May (peak) |
| 42 | Great Egret | Ardea alba | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 433 | May (peak) |
| 43 | Green Heron | Butorides virescens | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 422 | Aug (rising) |
| 44 | Double-crested Cormorant | Nannopterum auritum | Cormorants and Shags | 417 | Apr (past peak) |
| 45 | Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | Plovers and Lapwings | 407 | May (peak) |
| 46 | American White Pelican | Pelecanus erythrorhynchos | Pelicans | 392 | Apr (past peak) |
| 47 | Chestnut-sided Warbler | Setophaga pensylvanica | New World Warblers | 391 | May (peak) |
| 48 | Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | Swallows and Martins | 387 | May (peak) |
| 49 | Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | New World Warblers | 366 | May (peak) |
| 50 | Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | New World Vultures | 362 | Apr (past peak) |