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May Bird Migration Information

Friday, May 1, 2020

The following is a partial list of birds that migrate through our area and approximate times to see them. Arrival times can be affected by weather patterns.

Early Month
- Rails: Virginia, Sora, King (rare)
- Piping Plover (Summer resident, nesting on Platte River sandbars & Midwest Power Plant ponds south of Council Bluffs)
- Migrants: Hudsonian Godwit, Stilt Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher
- Terns: Forster's, Black
- Flycatchers: Least, Great-crested Flycatcher, Western Kingbird
- Thrushes: Swainson's, Gray-cheeked, Woodthrush (Summer Resident)
- Warblers (Summer Residents - best viewed in first 3 weeks of May): Northern Parula, Yellow-throated, Cerulean, American Redstart, Prothonotary, Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush, Kentucky Warbler, Common Yellowthroat
- Scarlet Tanagers (Summer Resident)
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Summer Resident)
- Orioles (Summer Resident) - Orchard & Baltimore

Mid Month:
- Shorebirds: Black-bellied Plover Ruddy Turnstone, White-rumped Sandpiper
- Terns: Least (Summer Resident), Caspian
- Flycatchers: Olive-sided Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied
- Veery Trush
- Warblers (Summer Residents - best viewed in first 3 weeks of May): Northern Parula, Yellow-throated, Cerulean, American Redstart, Prothonotary, Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush, Kentucky Warbler, Common Yellowthroat
- Veery Thrush
- Summer Tanagers (Summer Resident)
- Blue Grosbeak (Summer Resident)

Late Month:
- Sanderling (late May -1st week of June)
- Acadian Flycatcher

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