60 birds were recorded seen in North Carolina in May in our iNaturalist sample; 8 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.
Top birds in May
Northern Cardinal
Canada Goose
Eastern Bluebird
Great Blue Heron
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
Carolina Wren
Mallard
Red-shouldered Hawk
House Finch
Mourning Dove
All birds seen in North Carolina in May
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | Cardinals and Allies | 1,567 | Apr (past peak) |
| 2 | Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 1,331 | Apr (past peak) |
| 3 | Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis | Thrushes | 1,209 | Apr (past peak) |
| 4 | Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 1,204 | Apr (past peak) |
| 5 | American Robin | Turdus migratorius | Thrushes | 1,018 | Apr (past peak) |
| 6 | Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 870 | Apr (past peak) |
| 7 | Brown Thrasher | Toxostoma rufum | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 808 | Apr (past peak) |
| 8 | Carolina Wren | Thryothorus ludovicianus | Wrens | 786 | Apr (past peak) |
| 9 | Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 768 | Apr (past peak) |
| 10 | Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 767 | Jan (past peak) |
| 11 | House Finch | Haemorhous mexicanus | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 733 | Apr (past peak) |
| 12 | Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | Pigeons and Doves | 652 | Apr (past peak) |
| 13 | Eastern Towhee | Pipilo erythrophthalmus | New World Sparrows | 610 | Apr (past peak) |
| 14 | Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | New World Sparrows | 572 | Apr (past peak) |
| 15 | Carolina Chickadee | Poecile carolinensis | Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice | 563 | Apr (past peak) |
| 16 | Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 553 | Apr (past peak) |
| 17 | Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | Cardinals and Allies | 534 | May (peak) |
| 18 | Laughing Gull | Leucophaeus atricilla | Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers | 526 | Aug (rising) |
| 19 | Summer Tanager | Piranga rubra | Cardinals and Allies | 497 | May (peak) |
| 20 | Tufted Titmouse | Baeolophus bicolor | Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice | 488 | Jan (past peak) |
| 21 | Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | Tyrant Flycatchers | 484 | Apr (past peak) |
| 22 | Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies | 483 | Apr (past peak) |
| 23 | Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | Crows, Jays, and Magpies | 478 | Apr (past peak) |
| 24 | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Archilochus colubris | Hummingbirds | 464 | Aug (rising) |
| 25 | Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 440 | Apr (past peak) |
| 26 | Barred Owl | Strix varia | Typical Owls | 438 | Apr (past peak) |
| 27 | Sanderling | Calidris alba | Sandpipers and Allies | 432 | Aug (rising) |
| 28 | Green Heron | Butorides virescens | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 425 | Jul (rising) |
| 29 | Red-bellied Woodpecker | Melanerpes carolinus | Woodpeckers | 413 | Jan (past peak) |
| 30 | Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | Ospreys | 410 | Apr (past peak) |
| 31 | Downy Woodpecker | Dryobates pubescens | Woodpeckers | 394 | Jan (past peak) |
| 32 | Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | Swallows and Martins | 393 | May (peak) |
| 33 | Great Crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus crinitus | Tyrant Flycatchers | 382 | May (peak) |
| 34 | Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 378 | Apr (past peak) |
| 35 | Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | New World Vultures | 372 | Apr (past peak) |
| 36 | Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | Plovers and Lapwings | 361 | Apr (past peak) |
| 37 | American Goldfinch | Spinus tristis | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 351 | Jul (rising) |
| 38 | Pileated Woodpecker | Dryocopus pileatus | Woodpeckers | 350 | Apr (past peak) |
| 39 | Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | Tyrant Flycatchers | 348 | May (peak) |
| 40 | House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Old World Sparrows | 341 | Apr (past peak) |
| 41 | Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | New World Sparrows | 301 | Jan (past peak) |
| 42 | Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | Swallows and Martins | 286 | May (peak) |
| 43 | Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | New World Vultures | 283 | Apr (past peak) |
| 44 | Blue Grosbeak | Passerina caerulea | Cardinals and Allies | 279 | May (peak) |
| 45 | Double-crested Cormorant | Nannopterum auritum | Cormorants and Shags | 279 | Mar (past peak) |
| 46 | European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Starlings | 268 | Apr (past peak) |
| 47 | Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularius | Sandpipers and Allies | 267 | May (peak) |
| 48 | Boat-tailed Grackle | Quiscalus major | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 266 | Jun (rising) |
| 49 | Ruddy Turnstone | Arenaria interpres | Sandpipers and Allies | 262 | Aug (rising) |
| 50 | Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | Polioptila caerulea | Gnatcatchers and Gnatwrens | 261 | Apr (past peak) |