Birds to See in Denmark in May
215 species listed for May · birdwatchers' records, 2019–2024
215 bird species on our list for Denmark are recorded regularly in May. Of these, the most often recorded are Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Hooded Crow, Barn Swallow and Chiffchaff. New this month: Common Swift, Whitethroat, Cuckoo and Common Reed-warbler and 22 more.
New in May26
- Common Swift
- Whitethroat
- Cuckoo
- Common Reed-warbler
- Garden Warbler
- Marsh Warbler
- Red-backed Shrike
- Spotted Flycatcher
- Curlew Sandpiper
- European Honey-buzzard
- Little Stint
- Common Rosefinch
- Temminck's Stint
- Nightjar
- Great Skua
- Common Quail
- Golden Oriole
- Ruddy Shelduck
- Pectoral Sandpiper
- European Bee-eater
- Corncrake
- Griffon Vulture
- Pomarine Jaeger
- Bonelli's Eagle
- Nightingale
- White-winged Tern
Residents
(85)Recorded all year
Woodpigeon
Columba palumbusLC
Recorded all year
Blackbird
Turdus merulaLC
Recorded all year
Hooded Crow
Corvus cornixLC
Recorded all year
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
Recorded all year
European Herring Gull
Larus argentatusLC
Recorded all year
Black-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus ridibundusLC
Recorded all year
Greylag Goose
Anser anserLC
Recorded all year
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebsLC
Recorded all year
Great Tit
Parus majorLC
Recorded all year
Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carboLC
Recorded all year
Mute Swan
Cygnus olorLC
Recorded all year
Grey Heron
Ardea cinereaLC
Recorded all year
Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleusLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Skylark
Alauda arvensisLC
Recorded all year
Magpie
Pica picaLC
Recorded all year
Jackdaw
Coloeus monedulaLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Wren
Troglodytes troglodytesLC
Recorded all year
Common Starling
Sturnus vulgarisLC
Recorded all year
Common Gull
Larus canusLC
Recorded all year
Coot
Fulica atraLC
Recorded all year
Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellusNT
Recorded all year
Common Shelduck
Tadorna tadornaLC
Recorded all year
Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinellaLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegusNT
Recorded all year
Rook
Corvus frugilegusLC
Recorded all year
Buzzard
Buteo buteoLC
Recorded all year
Common Pheasant
Phasianus colchicusLC
Recorded all year
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculusLC
Recorded all year
Greenfinch
Chloris chlorisLC
Recorded all year
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinusLC
Recorded all year
House Sparrow
Passer domesticusLC
Recorded all year
Eider
Somateria mollissimaNT
Recorded all year
European Robin
Erithacus rubeculaLC
Recorded all year
Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisusLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Passer montanusLC
Recorded all year
Redshank
Tringa totanusLC
Recorded all year
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelisLC
Recorded all year
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos majorLC
Recorded all year
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serratorLC
Recorded all year
Gadwall
Mareca streperaLC
Recorded all year
Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligulaLC
Recorded all year
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatusLC
Recorded all year
White-tailed Sea-eagle
Haliaeetus albicillaLC
Recorded all year
Red-necked Grebe
Podiceps grisegenaLC
Recorded all year
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropusLC
Recorded all year
Red Kite
Milvus milvusLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Jay
Garrulus glandariusLC
Recorded all year
Rock Dove
Columba liviaLC
Recorded all year
Carrion Crow
Corvus coroneLC
Recorded all year
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeataLC
Recorded all year
Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhulaLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Collared Dove
Streptopelia decaoctoLC
Recorded all year
Common Raven
Corvus coraxLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Teal
Anas creccaLC
Recorded all year
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammeaLC
Recorded all year
Pochard
Aythya ferinaVU
Recorded all year
Common Scoter
Melanitta nigraLC
Recorded all year
Hawfinch
Coccothraustes coccothraustesLC
Recorded all year
Water Rail
Rallus aquaticusLC
Recorded all year
Northern Gannet
Morus bassanusLC
Recorded all year
Red-throated Loon
Gavia stellataLC
Recorded all year
Coal Tit
Periparus aterLC
Recorded all year
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollisLC
Recorded all year
Razorbill
Alca tordaLC
Recorded all year
Curlew
Numenius arquataNT
Recorded all year
Corn Bunting
Emberiza calandraLC
Recorded all year
Treecreeper
Certhia familiarisLC
Recorded all year
Canada Goose
Branta canadensisLC
Recorded all year
Arctic Loon
Gavia arcticaLC
Recorded all year
Bearded Tit
Panurus biarmicusLC
Recorded all year
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostraLC
Recorded all year
Short-toed Treecreeper
Certhia brachydactylaLC
Recorded all year
Sanderling
Calidris albaLC
Recorded all year
Kittiwake
Rissa tridactylaVU
Recorded all year
Velvet Scoter
Melanitta fuscaVU
Recorded all year
Black Guillemot
Cepphus grylleLC
Recorded all year
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpresLC
Recorded all year
Crested Tit
Lophophanes cristatusLC
Recorded all year
Grey Partridge
Perdix perdixLC
Recorded all year
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeusLC
Regularly Sep–Jul
Tawny Owl
Strix alucoLC
Recorded all year
European Green Woodpecker
Picus viridisLC
Recorded all year
Northern Goshawk
Astur gentilisLC
Recorded all year
Egyptian Goose
Alopochen aegyptiacaLC
Regularly Dec–Sep
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetosLC
Regularly Sep–Jul
Summer visitors
(81)Arrives to breed; scarce or absent in winter
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rusticaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybitaLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Blackcap
Sylvia atricapillaLC
Regularly Apr–Nov
Pied Wagtail
Motacilla albaLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Whitethroat
Curruca communisLC
Regularly May–Sep
Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Cuckoo
Cuculus canorusLC
Regularly May–Jul
Lesser Whitethroat
Curruca currucaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
House Martin
Delichon urbicumLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Linnet
Linaria cannabinaLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Common Swift
Apus apusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Common Redstart
Phoenicurus phoenicurusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclusLC
Recorded all year
Western Marsh-harrier
Circus aeruginosusLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Garden Warbler
Sylvia borinLC
Regularly May–Sep
Common Reed-warbler
Acrocephalus scirpaceusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flavaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensisLC
Recorded all year
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelosLC
Regularly Mar–Dec
Sand Martin
Riparia ripariaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialisLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticulaLC
Regularly Feb–Oct
Dunnock
Prunella modularisLC
Recorded all year
Common Crane
Grus grusLC
Recorded all year
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscusLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Sedge Warbler
Acrocephalus schoenobaenusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Wheatear
Oenanthe oenantheLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Common Tern
Sterna hirundoLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Sandwich Tern
Thalasseus sandvicensisLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Avocet
Recurvirostra avosettaLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Whinchat
Saxicola rubetraLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Marsh Warbler
Acrocephalus palustrisLC
Regularly May–Aug
Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striataLC
Regularly May–Oct
European Honey-buzzard
Pernis apivorusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Red-backed Shrike
Lanius collurioLC
Regularly May–Sep
Greenshank
Tringa nebulariaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Dunlin
Calidris alpinaLC
Recorded all year
Wood Warbler
Phylloscopus sibilatrixLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Eurasian Bittern
Botaurus stellarisLC
Regularly Nov–Aug
Wood Sandpiper
Tringa glareolaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Hobby
Falco subbuteoLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Osprey
Pandion haliaetusLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Stock Dove
Columba oenasLC
Recorded all year
Arctic Tern
Sterna paradisaeaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Ruff
Calidris pugnaxLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Garganey
Spatula querquedulaLC
Regularly Mar–Sep
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Little Ringed Plover
Thinornis dubiusLC
Regularly Mar–Sep
Little Tern
Sternula albifronsLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Stonechat
Saxicola rubicolaLC
Recorded all year
Grasshopper Warbler
Locustella naeviaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Black Redstart
Phoenicurus ochrurosLC
Recorded all year
Bluethroat
Luscinia svecicaLC
Regularly Mar–Aug
Common Snipe
Gallinago gallinagoLC
Recorded all year
Common Rosefinch
Carpodacus erythrinusLC
Regularly May–Aug
Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarolaLC
Regularly Apr–Feb
Bar-tailed Godwit
Limosa lapponicaNT
Recorded all year
Eurasian Spoonbill
Platalea leucorodiaLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Black-tailed Godwit
Limosa limosaNT
Regularly Mar–Nov
Arctic Jaeger
Stercorarius parasiticusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Woodlark
Lullula arboreaLC
Regularly Feb–Nov
Red Knot
Calidris canutusNT
Regularly Apr–Jan
Montagu's Harrier
Circus pygargusLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Black Tern
Chlidonias nigerLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Wryneck
Jynx torquillaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Spotted Redshank
Tringa erythropusLC
Regularly Apr–Nov
Nightjar
Caprimulgus europaeusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Little Gull
Hydrocoloeus minutusLC
Recorded all year
Green Sandpiper
Tringa ochropusLC
Regularly Mar–Sep
Firecrest
Regulus ignicapillaLC
Recorded all year
Fulmar
Fulmarus glacialisLC
Regularly Feb–Nov
Little Stint
Calidris minutaLC
Regularly May–Oct
Black-necked Grebe
Podiceps nigricollisLC
Regularly Mar–Sep
Serin
Serinus serinusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Kentish Plover
Charadrius alexandrinusLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Mediterranean Gull
Ichthyaetus melanocephalusLC
Regularly Jan–Oct
Red-crested Pochard
Netta rufinaLC
Regularly Jan–Jul
Savi's Warbler
Locustella luscinioidesLC
Regularly Apr–Jul
Common Quail
Coturnix coturnixLC
Regularly May–Aug
Little Egret
Egretta garzettaLC
Regularly Mar–Jul
Corncrake
Crex crexLC
Regularly May–Jul
Winter visitors
(29)Present outside the breeding season
Barnacle Goose
Branta leucopsisLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Siskin
Spinus spinusLC
Recorded all year
Goldcrest
Regulus regulusLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Nuthatch
Sitta europaeaLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Wigeon
Mareca penelopeLC
Recorded all year
Merlin
Falco columbariusLC
Regularly Aug–Jun
Fieldfare
Turdus pilarisLC
Regularly Sep–Jun
Common Merganser
Mergus merganserLC
Recorded all year
Marsh Tit
Poecile palustrisLC
Recorded all year
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatusLC
Recorded all year
Goldeneye
Bucephala clangulaLC
Recorded all year
Hen Harrier
Circus cyaneusLC
Regularly Aug–May
Rough-legged Hawk
Buteo lagopusLC
Regularly Sep–May
Brent Goose
Branta berniclaLC
Regularly Sep–Jun
Great White Egret
Ardea albaLC
Recorded all year
Golden Plover
Pluvialis apricariaLC
Regularly Jul–May
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorusLC
Recorded all year
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinusLC
Recorded all year
Brambling
Fringilla montifringillaLC
Regularly Sep–May
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinereaLC
Recorded all year
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthisLC
Recorded all year
Long-tailed Duck
Clangula hyemalisVU
Regularly Oct–May
Northern Pintail
Anas acutaLC
Regularly Jul–May
Eurasian Woodcock
Scolopax rusticolaLC
Regularly Oct–Jul
Greater Scaup
Aythya marilaLC
Regularly Jul–May
Long-eared Owl
Asio otusLC
Regularly Oct–Aug
Pink-footed Goose
Anser brachyrhynchusLC
Regularly Sep–May
Horned Grebe
Podiceps auritusVU
Regularly Sep–May
Willow Tit
Poecile montanusLC
Regularly Dec–Oct
Passage migrants
(18)Seen mainly in spring and autumn migration
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucosLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
European Pied Flycatcher
Ficedula hypoleucaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Temminck's Stint
Calidris temminckiiLC
Regularly May–Sep
Ring Ouzel
Turdus torquatusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Dotterel
Eudromias morinellusLC
Regularly Apr–May
Curlew Sandpiper
Calidris ferrugineaNT
Regularly May–Sep
Golden Oriole
Oriolus oriolusLC
Regularly May–Jun
Common Loon
Gavia immerLC
Regularly Oct–May
European Bee-eater
Merops apiasterLC
Regularly May–Jun
Griffon Vulture
Gyps fulvusLC
Regularly May–Jun
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchosLC
Regularly May
Ruddy Shelduck
Tadorna ferrugineaLC
Regularly May–Jun
European Turtle-dove
Streptopelia turturVU
Regularly Apr–May
Great Skua
Stercorarius skuaLC
Regularly May–Nov
Glaucous Gull
Larus hyperboreusLC
Regularly Feb–May
Pomarine Jaeger
Stercorarius pomarinusLC
Regularly May–Oct
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Dryobates minorLC
Regularly Dec–Sep
Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotosLC
Regularly May
Scarce visitors
(2)Recorded in some years but not every year
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