60 birds were recorded seen in Ohio in May in our iNaturalist sample; 38 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
Canada Goose
Red-winged Blackbird
Baltimore Oriole
Northern Yellow Warbler
Great Blue Heron
Tree Swallow
Northern Cardinal
Gray Catbird
Mallard
Bald Eagle
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
All birds seen in Ohio in May
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Robin | Turdus migratorius | Thrushes | 3,119 | Apr (past peak) |
| 2 | Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 3,003 | Apr (past peak) |
| 3 | Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 2,943 | May (peak) |
| 4 | Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 2,901 | May (peak) |
| 5 | Northern Yellow Warbler | Setophaga aestiva | New World Warblers | 2,465 | May (peak) |
| 6 | Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 2,108 | May (peak) |
| 7 | Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | Swallows and Martins | 2,004 | May (peak) |
| 8 | Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | Cardinals and Allies | 1,885 | Apr (past peak) |
| 9 | Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 1,871 | May (peak) |
| 10 | Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 1,852 | Apr (past peak) |
| 11 | Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 1,727 | May (peak) |
| 12 | Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | Cardinals and Allies | 1,666 | May (peak) |
| 13 | Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | New World Sparrows | 1,564 | May (peak) |
| 14 | American Redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | New World Warblers | 1,504 | May (peak) |
| 15 | Prothonotary Warbler | Protonotaria citrea | New World Warblers | 1,263 | May (peak) |
| 16 | Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | Tyrant Flycatchers | 1,248 | May (peak) |
| 17 | Magnolia Warbler | Setophaga magnolia | New World Warblers | 1,217 | May (peak) |
| 18 | Chestnut-sided Warbler | Setophaga pensylvanica | New World Warblers | 1,169 | May (peak) |
| 19 | Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | Plovers and Lapwings | 1,091 | May (peak) |
| 20 | Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | Cardinals and Allies | 1,091 | May (peak) |
| 21 | Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 1,071 | May (peak) |
| 22 | Great Egret | Ardea alba | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 1,054 | May (peak) |
| 23 | Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | Crows, Jays, and Magpies | 1,052 | May (peak) |
| 24 | Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis | Thrushes | 1,051 | May (peak) |
| 25 | Palm Warbler | Setophaga palmarum | New World Warblers | 1,049 | May (peak) |
| 26 | Green Heron | Butorides virescens | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 1,029 | May (peak) |
| 27 | Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 1,026 | Apr (past peak) |
| 28 | Bay-breasted Warbler | Setophaga castanea | New World Warblers | 1,024 | May (peak) |
| 29 | American Goldfinch | Spinus tristis | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 1,015 | Aug (rising) |
| 30 | Yellow-rumped Warbler | Setophaga coronata | New World Warblers | 993 | May (peak) |
| 31 | Scarlet Tanager | Piranga olivacea | Cardinals and Allies | 990 | May (peak) |
| 32 | Blackburnian Warbler | Setophaga fusca | New World Warblers | 987 | May (peak) |
| 33 | House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Old World Sparrows | 986 | May (peak) |
| 34 | Eastern Warbling Vireo | Vireo gilvus | Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis | 975 | May (peak) |
| 35 | Swainson's Thrush | Catharus ustulatus | Thrushes | 949 | May (peak) |
| 36 | Red-bellied Woodpecker | Melanerpes carolinus | Woodpeckers | 882 | Apr (past peak) |
| 37 | Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | Pigeons and Doves | 866 | Apr (past peak) |
| 38 | Red-headed Woodpecker | Melanerpes erythrocephalus | Woodpeckers | 864 | May (peak) |
| 39 | Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 862 | Apr (past peak) |
| 40 | Black-throated Green Warbler | Setophaga virens | New World Warblers | 857 | May (peak) |
| 41 | Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | New World Vultures | 844 | Apr (past peak) |
| 42 | Northern Parula | Setophaga americana | New World Warblers | 834 | May (peak) |
| 43 | Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | Swallows and Martins | 815 | May (peak) |
| 44 | Trumpeter Swan | Cygnus buccinator | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 809 | May (peak) |
| 45 | Black-throated Blue Warbler | Setophaga caerulescens | New World Warblers | 801 | May (peak) |
| 46 | Cape May Warbler | Setophaga tigrina | New World Warblers | 776 | May (peak) |
| 47 | Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | Tyrant Flycatchers | 768 | May (peak) |
| 48 | Downy Woodpecker | Dryobates pubescens | Woodpeckers | 753 | Apr (past peak) |
| 49 | Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | New World Sparrows | 750 | Apr (past peak) |
| 50 | Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | New World Warblers | 733 | May (peak) |