Cardinals in Vermont in May

Yes, May is one of the best months to see cardinals in Vermont. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 441 of the 3,494 sightings logged across the year (12.6%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 2, 2026.

Eastern Cardinal photographed in VermontNorthern Cardinal photographed in VermontNorthern Cardinal photographed in Vermont
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for cardinals in Vermont

12.6%

of yearly sightings

441

records in May

#3

busiest month of 12

3,494

verified records a year

April 23.5%, May 12.6%, June 4.6%. Busiest month is April at 23.5%.

Best months: April, March, May

3,494 verified observations of cardinals in Vermont, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When cardinals are recorded in Vermont

Peak month

April

822 records (23.5% of the year)

Quietest month

September

89 records

MonthObservationsShare
January2487.1%
February37710.8%
Marchpeak50214.4%
Aprilpeak82223.5%
Maypeak44112.6%
June1624.6%
July1524.4%
August1133.2%
September892.5%
October1193.4%
November2055.9%
December2647.6%

Cardinals you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Northern Cardinal3,493

In Vermont, May carries 12.6% of the year's cardinals sightings, about 4.3 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from April (23.5%) into May, and it heads toward June (4.6%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so May is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The cardinals most often recorded in Vermont are Northern Cardinal. Those counts are annual totals rather than a May split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in May itself.

Which cardinals you are most likely to see

  • Northern Cardinal3,493 records
Plan your tripAppalachian National Scenic Trail

Plan your cardinal trip in Vermont

Start with live tours near Appalachian National Scenic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see cardinals in Vermont in May?+

Yes. May accounts for 441 of the 3,494 verified cardinals sightings logged in Vermont across the year, which is 12.6% of the annual total.

Is May a good time to see cardinals in Vermont?+

May is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of April, March and May.

What month is best for cardinals in Vermont?+

April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, March and May, based on 3,494 verified observations.

Which cardinals are you most likely to see in Vermont?+

The most-recorded species in Vermont are Northern Cardinal, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.