Birds to See in Queensland in May
65 bird species on our list for Queensland are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Rainbow Lorikeet, Willie Wagtail, Australian Magpie, Laughing Kookaburra and Galah. New this month: Roseate Tern and Gouldian Finch.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayAt their peak
From Queensland’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 65 birds in May
65 birds
Rainbow LorikeetTrichoglossus moluccanusResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in May
Willie WagtailRhipidura leucophrysResidentCommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 2.28% in May
Australian MagpieGymnorhina tibicenResidentCommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 2.09% in May
Laughing KookaburraDacelo novaeguineaeResidentCommon41–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in May
GalahEolophus roseicapillaResidentCommon35–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
Whistling KiteHaliastur sphenurusResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in May
Eastern Yellow RobinEopsaltria australisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in May
Red-browed FinchNeochmia temporalisResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentUncommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Australian King-parrotAlisterus scapularisResidentUncommon40–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentUncommon110–142 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentUncommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Australian RavenCorvus coronoidesResidentUncommon46–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Rose RobinPetroica roseaWinter visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.24% in May
Little WattlebirdAnthochaera chrysopteraResidentUncommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
ApostlebirdStruthidea cinereaResidentUncommon29–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
CockatielNymphicus hollandicusResidentUncommon30–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Blue-winged KookaburraDacelo leachiiResidentUncommon38–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
BrolgaAntigone rubicundaResidentUncommon100–140 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Metallic StarlingAplonis metallicaResidentUncommon22–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentUncommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Australian HobbyFalco longipennisResidentUncommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentUncommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentUncommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Australian BustardArdeotis australisResidentUncommon100–140 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentUncommon48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
EmuDromaius novaehollandiaeResidentUncommon150–190 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
White-cheeked HoneyeaterPhylidonyris nigerResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentRare34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentRare50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Mulga ParrotPsephotellus variusWinter visitorRare27–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Red WattlebirdAnthochaera carunculataResidentRare33–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Southern CassowaryCasuarius casuariusResidentRare127–170 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentRare53–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
New Holland HoneyeaterPhylidonyris novaehollandiaeResidentRare16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Sarus CraneGrus antigoneResidentUncommon152–156 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in May
Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataSummer visitorUncommon17–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
Long-tailed FinchPoephila acuticaudaWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorUncommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in May
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentRare24–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserPassage migrantRare75–90 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in May
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriWinter visitorRare38–42 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.00% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in May
Red JunglefowlGallus gallusResidentRare42–75 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
RedthroatPyrrholaemus brunneusWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in May
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusSummer visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.00% in May
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.00% in May
Gouldian FinchChloebia gouldiaePassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.00% in May
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made