Birds in Illinois in May

Percent of complete checklists in Illinois that reported the bird during these weeks, 2016–2025 (211,218 checklists). It shows how likely you are to list the bird, not how many there are. Methods.

1. 1American Robin76%
2. 2Northern Cardinal64%
3. 3Red-winged Blackbird64%
4. 4American Goldfinch48%
5. 5Blue Jay45%
6. 6Brown-headed Cowbird44%
7. 7Canada Goose44%
8. 8Common Grackle42%
9. 9Gray Catbird42%
10. 10Baltimore Oriole42%
11. 11Mourning Dove41%
12. 12House Sparrow41%
13. 13Mallard40%
14. 14Red-bellied Woodpecker39%
15. 15Song Sparrow39%
16. 16European Starling38%
17. 17Northern House Wren37%
18. 18Common Yellowthroat37%
19. 19Downy Woodpecker35%
20. 20Black-capped Chickadee33%
21. 21Blue-gray Gnatcatcher32%
22. 22Barn Swallow32%
23. 23Northern Yellow Warbler31%
24. 24Tree Swallow31%
25. 25Indigo Bunting29%
26. 26American Crow28%
27. 27Eastern Warbling Vireo26%
28. 28Rose-breasted Grosbeak25%
29. 29House Finch25%
30. 30White-breasted Nuthatch24%
31. 31Northern Flicker24%
32. 32Great Blue Heron23%
33. 33Chimney Swift23%
34. 34American Redstart23%
35. 35Great Crested Flycatcher21%
36. 36Yellow-rumped Warbler21%
37. 37Eastern Wood-Pewee21%
38. 38Palm Warbler20%
39. 39Red-eyed Vireo20%
40. 40Ring-billed Gull20%
41. 41White-crowned Sparrow19%
42. 42Killdeer19%
43. 43Chipping Sparrow19%
44. 44White-throated Sparrow19%
45. 45Turkey Vulture18%
46. 46Eastern Kingbird18%
47. 47Swainson's Thrush17%
48. 48Northern Rough-winged Swallow17%
49. 49Double-crested Cormorant17%
50. 50Nashville Warbler16%
51. 51Eastern Towhee16%
52. 52Wood Duck15%
53. 53Tennessee Warbler15%
54. 54Eastern Phoebe15%
55. 55Black-and-white Warbler14%
56. 56Field Sparrow14%
57. 57Magnolia Warbler14%
58. 58Tufted Titmouse13%
59. 59Ruby-crowned Kinglet13%
60. 60Red-tailed Hawk13%

• Eastern Wood-Peweefirst arrivals early May, peaks late May
• Cedar Waxwingfirst arrivals early May, peaks mid August
• Dickcisselfirst arrivals early May, peaks late June
• Willow Flycatcherfirst arrivals the second week of May, peaks early June
• Wilson's Warblerfirst arrivals early May, peaks mid May
• Canada Warblerfirst arrivals early May, peaks late May
• Common Nighthawkfirst arrivals the second week of May, peaks early September
• Yellow-billed Cuckoofirst arrivals the second week of May, peaks early June
• Bobolinkfirst arrivals early May, peaks the second week of June
• Henslow's Sparrowfirst arrivals early May, peaks mid June
• Mourning Warblerfirst arrivals the second week of May, peaks late May
• Yellow-bellied Flycatcherfirst arrivals the second week of May, peaks late May

• Yellow-rumped Warblermost gone by late May
• White-throated Sparrowmost gone by mid May
• Northern Flickermost gone by mid May
• Ruby-crowned Kingletmost gone by late May
• White-crowned Sparrowmost gone by late May
• Nashville Warblermost gone by late May
• Tennessee Warblermost gone by late May
• Black-and-white Warblermost gone by late May
• Northern Shovelermost gone by early May
• Northern Waterthrushmost gone by late May
• Brown Creepermost gone by early May
• American Cootmost gone by early May