Birds to See in Iceland in May
106 bird species on our list for Iceland are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Common Snipe, Redshank, Redwing, Black-headed Gull and Greylag Goose. New this month: Arctic Tern, Red-necked Phalarope, Eurasian Woodcock and Arctic Loon and 11 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Iceland’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 106 birds in May
106 birds
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoSummer visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 3.98% in May
RedshankTringa totanusSummer visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 3.93% in May
RedwingTurdus iliacusResidentCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 3.76% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 3.72% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 3.72% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorCommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Sep · 3.67% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 3.59% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 3.08% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 3.04% in May
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaSummer visitorCommon26–29 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 2.88% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusSummer visitorCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.82% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 2.64% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorCommon40–44 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 2.56% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 2.43% in May
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusResidentCommon140–165 cmRecorded all year · 2.37% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 2.18% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeResidentCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.10% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.59% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaSummer visitorCommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.44% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.35% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorCommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Aug · 1.30% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in May
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaWinter visitorCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in May
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusResidentCommon62–68 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in May
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusSummer visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.03% in May
Rock PtarmiganLagopus mutaResidentCommon34–36 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorCommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.00% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorCommon23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.95% in May
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in May
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorCommon52–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in May
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.87% in May
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
Greater ScaupAythya marilaSummer visitorCommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in May
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisSummer visitorCommon58–70 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.65% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.62% in May
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.58% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.56% in May
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantCommon55–66 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.54% in May
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaResidentCommon20–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraSummer visitorUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorCommon50–58 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.45% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaSummer visitorUncommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaResidentUncommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.31% in May
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.31% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.15% in May
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusResidentUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentUncommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in May
King EiderSomateria spectabilisWinter visitorUncommon46–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
CootFulica atraSummer visitorUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
PochardAythya ferinaSummer visitorRare42–49 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.05% in May
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusSummer visitorUncommon40–42 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in May
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.04% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisSummer visitorRare76–110 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.03% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorRare22–26 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.03% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaPassage migrantUncommon10–12 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaPassage migrantRare55–65 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.02% in May
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaSummer visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.02% in May
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorRare46–51 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaSummer visitorRare51–58 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.02% in May
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoWinter visitorUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaSummer visitorUncommon58–77 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
SmewMergellus albellusPassage migrantRare38–44 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.01% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantRare23–27 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataSummer visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.01% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataPassage migrantRare41–49 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiPassage migrantRare53–76 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.01% in May
Sabine's GullXema sabiniSummer visitorUncommon27–33 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesPassage migrantRare17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jan–May · 0.01% in May
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly May–Aug · 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