60 birds were recorded seen in Tennessee in May in our iNaturalist sample; 12 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
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Canada Goose
Northern Mockingbird
Eastern Bluebird
Great Blue Heron
House Finch
Wild Turkey
Mallard
Mourning Dove
Carolina Wren
All birds seen in Tennessee in May
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Robin | Turdus migratorius | Thrushes | 1,038 | Apr (past peak) |
| 2 | Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | Cardinals and Allies | 808 | Apr (past peak) |
| 3 | Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | Cardinals and Allies | 689 | May (peak) |
| 4 | Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 662 | Apr (past peak) |
| 5 | Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 646 | Apr (past peak) |
| 6 | Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis | Thrushes | 634 | Apr (past peak) |
| 7 | Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 586 | Apr (past peak) |
| 8 | House Finch | Haemorhous mexicanus | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 577 | Apr (past peak) |
| 9 | Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies | 521 | Apr (past peak) |
| 10 | Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 462 | Apr (past peak) |
| 11 | Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | Pigeons and Doves | 461 | Apr (past peak) |
| 12 | Carolina Wren | Thryothorus ludovicianus | Wrens | 446 | Apr (past peak) |
| 13 | Brown Thrasher | Toxostoma rufum | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 432 | May (peak) |
| 14 | Summer Tanager | Piranga rubra | Cardinals and Allies | 398 | May (peak) |
| 15 | Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 381 | Apr (past peak) |
| 16 | European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Starlings | 355 | Apr (past peak) |
| 17 | Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | Tyrant Flycatchers | 353 | May (peak) |
| 18 | Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | Crows, Jays, and Magpies | 351 | Apr (past peak) |
| 19 | Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | Tyrant Flycatchers | 342 | Apr (past peak) |
| 20 | Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 328 | Apr (past peak) |
| 21 | House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Old World Sparrows | 324 | Apr (past peak) |
| 22 | American Goldfinch | Spinus tristis | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 317 | Apr (past peak) |
| 23 | Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 306 | Apr (past peak) |
| 24 | Carolina Chickadee | Poecile carolinensis | Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice | 304 | Feb (past peak) |
| 25 | Red-bellied Woodpecker | Melanerpes carolinus | Woodpeckers | 301 | Jan (past peak) |
| 26 | Eastern Towhee | Pipilo erythrophthalmus | New World Sparrows | 280 | Apr (past peak) |
| 27 | Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | Swallows and Martins | 279 | May (peak) |
| 28 | Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | Swallows and Martins | 279 | Apr (past peak) |
| 29 | Tufted Titmouse | Baeolophus bicolor | Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice | 279 | Mar (past peak) |
| 30 | Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | Cardinals and Allies | 278 | Apr (past peak) |
| 31 | Prothonotary Warbler | Protonotaria citrea | New World Warblers | 277 | May (peak) |
| 32 | Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | New World Vultures | 272 | Apr (past peak) |
| 33 | Downy Woodpecker | Dryobates pubescens | Woodpeckers | 270 | Feb (past peak) |
| 34 | Eastern Wood-Pewee | Contopus virens | Tyrant Flycatchers | 268 | Sep (rising) |
| 35 | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Archilochus colubris | Hummingbirds | 267 | Aug (rising) |
| 36 | Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis | 259 | May (peak) |
| 37 | Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | New World Sparrows | 258 | Apr (past peak) |
| 38 | Barred Owl | Strix varia | Typical Owls | 252 | Apr (past peak) |
| 39 | Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | New World Sparrows | 245 | Jan (past peak) |
| 40 | Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | Plovers and Lapwings | 240 | Apr (past peak) |
| 41 | Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 231 | Jan (past peak) |
| 42 | Scarlet Tanager | Piranga olivacea | Cardinals and Allies | 227 | May (peak) |
| 43 | Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 223 | May (peak) |
| 44 | Green Heron | Butorides virescens | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 213 | Aug (rising) |
| 45 | Pileated Woodpecker | Dryocopus pileatus | Woodpeckers | 210 | Apr (past peak) |
| 46 | Great Crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus crinitus | Tyrant Flycatchers | 203 | May (peak) |
| 47 | Field Sparrow | Spizella pusilla | New World Sparrows | 189 | Apr (past peak) |
| 48 | Blue Grosbeak | Passerina caerulea | Cardinals and Allies | 188 | May (peak) |
| 49 | Yellow-breasted Chat | Icteria virens | Yellow-breasted Chats | 187 | May (peak) |
| 50 | Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 182 | Nov (rising) |