60 birds were recorded seen in Missouri in May in our iNaturalist sample; 25 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.
Top birds in May
American Robin
Indigo Bunting
Northern Cardinal
Canada Goose
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Great Blue Heron
House Sparrow
Swainson's Thrush
Summer Tanager
Mourning Dove
Baltimore Oriole
All birds seen in Missouri in May
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Robin | Turdus migratorius | Thrushes | 864 | Apr (past peak) |
| 2 | Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | Cardinals and Allies | 745 | May (peak) |
| 3 | Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | Cardinals and Allies | 564 | Apr (past peak) |
| 4 | Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 545 | Apr (past peak) |
| 5 | Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | Cardinals and Allies | 453 | May (peak) |
| 6 | Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 442 | May (peak) |
| 7 | Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 413 | May (peak) |
| 8 | House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Old World Sparrows | 377 | May (peak) |
| 9 | Swainson's Thrush | Catharus ustulatus | Thrushes | 365 | May (peak) |
| 10 | Summer Tanager | Piranga rubra | Cardinals and Allies | 358 | May (peak) |
| 11 | Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | Pigeons and Doves | 356 | Apr (past peak) |
| 12 | Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 353 | May (peak) |
| 13 | Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 344 | Apr (past peak) |
| 14 | Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | Tyrant Flycatchers | 344 | May (peak) |
| 15 | Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis | Thrushes | 329 | Apr (past peak) |
| 16 | House Finch | Haemorhous mexicanus | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 320 | Apr (past peak) |
| 17 | Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 307 | May (peak) |
| 18 | Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | New World Warblers | 299 | May (peak) |
| 19 | Tennessee Warbler | Leiothlypis peregrina | New World Warblers | 293 | May (peak) |
| 20 | Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 292 | Apr (past peak) |
| 21 | European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Starlings | 289 | May (peak) |
| 22 | American Goldfinch | Spinus tristis | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 277 | Apr (past peak) |
| 23 | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Archilochus colubris | Hummingbirds | 273 | Sep (rising) |
| 24 | Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | New World Vultures | 272 | Apr (past peak) |
| 25 | Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | Crows, Jays, and Magpies | 261 | Apr (past peak) |
| 26 | Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 261 | May (peak) |
| 27 | Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies | 254 | Apr (past peak) |
| 28 | Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapilla | New World Warblers | 249 | May (peak) |
| 29 | Dickcissel | Spiza americana | Cardinals and Allies | 248 | May (peak) |
| 30 | Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | Plovers and Lapwings | 242 | May (peak) |
| 31 | Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | Tyrant Flycatchers | 242 | Apr (past peak) |
| 32 | Great Egret | Ardea alba | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 238 | Apr (past peak) |
| 33 | Brown Thrasher | Toxostoma rufum | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 212 | May (peak) |
| 34 | Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | Swallows and Martins | 210 | May (peak) |
| 35 | Red-bellied Woodpecker | Melanerpes carolinus | Woodpeckers | 202 | Apr (past peak) |
| 36 | Red-headed Woodpecker | Melanerpes erythrocephalus | Woodpeckers | 186 | May (peak) |
| 37 | Orchard Oriole | Icterus spurius | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 185 | May (peak) |
| 38 | Downy Woodpecker | Dryobates pubescens | Woodpeckers | 183 | Mar (past peak) |
| 39 | Barred Owl | Strix varia | Typical Owls | 179 | Apr (past peak) |
| 40 | Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 165 | Jan (past peak) |
| 41 | Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 163 | Mar (past peak) |
| 42 | Carolina Wren | Thryothorus ludovicianus | Wrens | 158 | Apr (past peak) |
| 43 | Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 157 | Apr (past peak) |
| 44 | Yellow-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus | Cuckoos | 155 | May (peak) |
| 45 | Great Crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus crinitus | Tyrant Flycatchers | 153 | May (peak) |
| 46 | Tufted Titmouse | Baeolophus bicolor | Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice | 148 | Apr (past peak) |
| 47 | Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 147 | Nov (rising) |
| 48 | American Redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | New World Warblers | 147 | May (peak) |
| 49 | Nashville Warbler | Leiothlypis ruficapilla | New World Warblers | 147 | May (peak) |
| 50 | Mississippi Kite | Ictinia mississippiensis | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 135 | Aug (rising) |