60 birds were recorded seen in New Jersey in May in our iNaturalist sample; 27 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
Gray Catbird
Canada Goose
Red-winged Blackbird
Mallard
Mourning Dove
Common Yellowthroat
Laughing Gull
Northern Cardinal
Great Blue Heron
House Sparrow
Tree Swallow
All birds seen in New Jersey in May
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Robin | Turdus migratorius | Thrushes | 1,849 | Apr (past peak) |
| 2 | Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 1,604 | May (peak) |
| 3 | Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 1,481 | Apr (past peak) |
| 4 | Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 1,255 | May (peak) |
| 5 | Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 880 | Mar (past peak) |
| 6 | Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | Pigeons and Doves | 777 | Apr (past peak) |
| 7 | Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | New World Warblers | 719 | May (peak) |
| 8 | Laughing Gull | Leucophaeus atricilla | Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers | 719 | Aug (rising) |
| 9 | Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | Cardinals and Allies | 700 | Apr (past peak) |
| 10 | Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 697 | Sep (rising) |
| 11 | House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Old World Sparrows | 697 | May (peak) |
| 12 | Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | Swallows and Martins | 644 | May (peak) |
| 13 | Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | Crows, Jays, and Magpies | 616 | May (peak) |
| 14 | European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Starlings | 609 | May (peak) |
| 15 | Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 605 | May (peak) |
| 16 | Great Egret | Ardea alba | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 604 | Aug (rising) |
| 17 | Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | Ospreys | 595 | Aug (rising) |
| 18 | Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapilla | New World Warblers | 587 | May (peak) |
| 19 | Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 517 | May (peak) |
| 20 | House Finch | Haemorhous mexicanus | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 508 | May (peak) |
| 21 | Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | New World Sparrows | 438 | Apr (past peak) |
| 22 | Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | Tyrant Flycatchers | 431 | May (peak) |
| 23 | Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | New World Vultures | 430 | Mar (past peak) |
| 24 | Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 422 | Apr (past peak) |
| 25 | Ruddy Turnstone | Arenaria interpres | Sandpipers and Allies | 412 | May (peak) |
| 26 | Double-crested Cormorant | Nannopterum auritum | Cormorants and Shags | 410 | Aug (rising) |
| 27 | Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | New World Sparrows | 409 | Mar (past peak) |
| 28 | Northern Yellow Warbler | Setophaga aestiva | New World Warblers | 408 | May (peak) |
| 29 | Red-bellied Woodpecker | Melanerpes carolinus | Woodpeckers | 390 | Apr (past peak) |
| 30 | American Oystercatcher | Haematopus palliatus | Oystercatchers | 386 | May (peak) |
| 31 | Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | Swallows and Martins | 370 | May (peak) |
| 32 | Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | New World Warblers | 359 | May (peak) |
| 33 | Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 359 | Apr (past peak) |
| 34 | Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 358 | Mar (past peak) |
| 35 | Scarlet Tanager | Piranga olivacea | Cardinals and Allies | 340 | May (peak) |
| 36 | Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | Cardinals and Allies | 337 | May (peak) |
| 37 | Mute Swan | Cygnus olor | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 324 | Oct (rising) |
| 38 | Semipalmated Sandpiper | Calidris pusilla | Sandpipers and Allies | 320 | May (peak) |
| 39 | American Goldfinch | Spinus tristis | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 319 | Aug (rising) |
| 40 | Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 316 | Oct (rising) |
| 41 | American Redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | New World Warblers | 316 | May (peak) |
| 42 | Wood Thrush | Hylocichla mustelina | Thrushes | 316 | May (peak) |
| 43 | Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies | 315 | Apr (past peak) |
| 44 | Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis | Thrushes | 301 | Apr (past peak) |
| 45 | Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | Cardinals and Allies | 297 | May (peak) |
| 46 | Purple Martin | Progne subis | Swallows and Martins | 296 | May (peak) |
| 47 | Eastern Towhee | Pipilo erythrophthalmus | New World Sparrows | 289 | May (peak) |
| 48 | Forster's Tern | Sterna forsteri | Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers | 286 | May (peak) |
| 49 | Great Crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus crinitus | Tyrant Flycatchers | 283 | May (peak) |
| 50 | Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | Tyrant Flycatchers | 279 | Oct (rising) |