Birds to See in Greece in May
198 bird species on our list for Greece are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Barn Swallow, House Sparrow, Yellow-legged Gull, Hooded Crow and Eurasian Collared Dove. New this month: Marsh Warbler, Red Knot and Common Rosefinch.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Greece’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 198 birds in May
198 birds
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 2.93% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.72% in May
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisResidentCommon52–68 cmRecorded all year · 2.69% in May
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.66% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 2.42% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.74% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.73% in May
European Bee-eaterMerops apiasterSummer visitorCommon27–29 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.59% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 1.57% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in May
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentCommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in May
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in May
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchosSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 1.25% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in May
HoopoeUpupa epopsSummer visitorCommon25–32 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 1.21% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in May
Sardinian WarblerCurruca melanocephalaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in May
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.05% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in May
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturSummer visitorCommon26–28 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.85% in May
Cirl BuntingEmberiza cirlusResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.82% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.80% in May
Woodchat ShrikeLanius senatorSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.80% in May
Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melbaSummer visitorCommon20–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.77% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.76% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentCommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in May
Squacco HeronArdeola ralloidesSummer visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.71% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in May
Golden OrioleOriolus oriolusSummer visitorCommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.69% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.68% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in May
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.56% in May
Subalpine WarblerCurruca cantillansSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.55% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May
Little StintCalidris minutaWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.52% in May
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorCommon19–21 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.52% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.52% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in May
Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseusResidentCommon120–145 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.48% in May
Pallid SwiftApus pallidusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.48% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May
Purple HeronArdea purpureaSummer visitorUncommon78–90 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.42% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxSummer visitorCommon20–32 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.41% in May
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.39% in May
Eleonora's FalconFalco eleonoraeSummer visitorCommon36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.38% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaWinter visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.36% in May
Blue Rock-thrushMonticola solitariusResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.35% in May
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.34% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
Little BitternIxobrychus minutusSummer visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.32% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaResidentCommon80–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Eurasian Scops-owlOtus scopsSummer visitorCommon19–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.31% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosResidentCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentUncommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaResidentUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.25% in May
European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorusSummer visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.25% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.25% in May
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusPassage migrantUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.25% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in May
WoodlarkLullula arboreaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentUncommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentUncommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestrisResidentUncommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentUncommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusPassage migrantUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.20% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaResidentCommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
SerinSerinus serinusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaWinter visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in May
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentUncommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.17% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
ChukarAlectoris chukarSummer visitorUncommon32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactylaSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.14% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Short-toed TreecreeperCerthia brachydactylaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargusSummer visitorUncommon43–47 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.14% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaWinter visitorCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorUncommon33–42 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.13% in May
Eurasian Stone-curlewBurhinus oedicnemusSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.13% in May
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Griffon VultureGyps fulvusResidentUncommon93–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.12% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisWinter visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentUncommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Booted EagleHieraaetus pennatusSummer visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.11% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinPassage migrantUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.11% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.11% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusSummer visitorUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in May
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.10% in May
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixSummer visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.09% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.09% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataWinter visitorCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Marsh WarblerAcrocephalus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in May
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusWinter visitorUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.08% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosWinter visitorCommon20–23 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.08% in May
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusWinter visitorUncommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Long-eared OwlAsio otusResidentUncommon35–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in May
Alpine ChoughPyrrhocorax graculusSummer visitorUncommon36–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Barn OwlTyto albaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Rufous-tailed Rock-thrushMonticola saxatilisSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in May
Cinereous VultureAegypius monachusResidentRare98–120 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in May
WryneckJynx torquillaSummer visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.03% in May
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentRare13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaWinter visitorUncommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusWinter visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.03% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in May
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in May
Northern GoshawkAstur gentilisWinter visitorUncommon46–61 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisWinter visitorUncommon69–81 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.02% in May
Audouin's GullIchthyaetus audouiniiSummer visitorUncommon48–52 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.02% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Bonelli's EagleAquila fasciataResidentRare65–72 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentRare17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Crested TitLophophanes cristatusSummer visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.02% in May
Egyptian VultureNeophron percnopterusSummer visitorRare55–65 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorRare58–68 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataSummer visitorUncommon66–84 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in May
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in May
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxSummer visitorRare39–43 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
Spotted CrakePorzana porzanaPassage migrantRare19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in May
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusPassage migrantRare86–230 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in May
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisPassage migrantRare76–110 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 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