60 birds were recorded seen in West Virginia 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
Canada Goose
Red-winged Blackbird
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Eastern Phoebe
Baltimore Oriole
Eastern Towhee
Scarlet Tanager
Red-eyed Vireo
Chipping Sparrow
Gray Catbird
All birds seen in West Virginia in May
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Robin | Turdus migratorius | Thrushes | 285 | Apr (past peak) |
| 2 | Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 198 | Apr (past peak) |
| 3 | Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 176 | May (peak) |
| 4 | Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | Cardinals and Allies | 156 | Apr (past peak) |
| 5 | Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | Cardinals and Allies | 137 | May (peak) |
| 6 | Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | Tyrant Flycatchers | 135 | May (peak) |
| 7 | Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 131 | May (peak) |
| 8 | Eastern Towhee | Pipilo erythrophthalmus | New World Sparrows | 129 | Apr (past peak) |
| 9 | Scarlet Tanager | Piranga olivacea | Cardinals and Allies | 128 | May (peak) |
| 10 | Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis | 118 | May (peak) |
| 11 | Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | New World Sparrows | 117 | Apr (past peak) |
| 12 | Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 116 | May (peak) |
| 13 | Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | New World Vultures | 106 | Apr (past peak) |
| 14 | Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | New World Sparrows | 103 | Apr (past peak) |
| 15 | Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | Cardinals and Allies | 102 | May (peak) |
| 16 | Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis | Thrushes | 101 | Apr (past peak) |
| 17 | American Redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | New World Warblers | 100 | May (peak) |
| 18 | American Goldfinch | Spinus tristis | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 97 | Apr (past peak) |
| 19 | House Finch | Haemorhous mexicanus | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 92 | May (peak) |
| 20 | Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | Plovers and Lapwings | 89 | May (peak) |
| 21 | Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | Crows, Jays, and Magpies | 85 | Oct (rising) |
| 22 | Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | Pigeons and Doves | 83 | Apr (past peak) |
| 23 | Golden-winged Warbler | Vermivora chrysoptera | New World Warblers | 82 | May (peak) |
| 24 | Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | Swallows and Martins | 81 | May (peak) |
| 25 | Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 79 | Apr (past peak) |
| 26 | Wood Thrush | Hylocichla mustelina | Thrushes | 79 | May (peak) |
| 27 | Brown Thrasher | Toxostoma rufum | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 76 | Apr (past peak) |
| 28 | Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 75 | May (peak) |
| 29 | House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Old World Sparrows | 75 | Apr (past peak) |
| 30 | Northern Yellow Warbler | Setophaga aestiva | New World Warblers | 73 | May (peak) |
| 31 | Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies | 70 | Sep (rising) |
| 32 | Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 69 | Apr (past peak) |
| 33 | Pileated Woodpecker | Dryocopus pileatus | Woodpeckers | 68 | May (peak) |
| 34 | Black-throated Green Warbler | Setophaga virens | New World Warblers | 68 | May (peak) |
| 35 | Canada Warbler | Cardellina canadensis | New World Warblers | 68 | May (peak) |
| 36 | Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | New World Warblers | 67 | May (peak) |
| 37 | Blue-headed Vireo | Vireo solitarius | Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis | 67 | May (peak) |
| 38 | Chestnut-sided Warbler | Setophaga pensylvanica | New World Warblers | 64 | May (peak) |
| 39 | Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | Tyrant Flycatchers | 63 | May (peak) |
| 40 | Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularius | Sandpipers and Allies | 62 | May (peak) |
| 41 | Carolina Wren | Thryothorus ludovicianus | Wrens | 61 | Apr (past peak) |
| 42 | Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapilla | New World Warblers | 61 | May (peak) |
| 43 | Hooded Warbler | Setophaga citrina | New World Warblers | 61 | May (peak) |
| 44 | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Archilochus colubris | Hummingbirds | 60 | Aug (rising) |
| 45 | Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | New World Warblers | 60 | Jun (rising) |
| 46 | Orchard Oriole | Icterus spurius | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 58 | May (peak) |
| 47 | Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 57 | Apr (past peak) |
| 48 | Red-bellied Woodpecker | Melanerpes carolinus | Woodpeckers | 55 | Apr (past peak) |
| 49 | Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 54 | Aug (rising) |
| 50 | Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 54 | Apr (past peak) |