Birds to See in India in May
131 bird species on our list for India are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Rock Dove, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Indian Peafowl, House Sparrow and Indian Robin. New this month: Common Swift, European Bee-eater, Little Bittern and Black-necked Grebe and 2 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From India’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 131 birds in May
131 birds
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in May
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentCommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in May
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentCommon86–230 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in May
Indian RobinCopsychus fulicatusResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in May
White-cheeked BarbetPsilopogon viridisResidentCommon22–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
Spotted OwletAthene bramaResidentUncommon19–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Purple HeronArdea purpureaResidentCommon78–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentUncommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Oriental Honey-buzzardPernis ptilorhynchusResidentUncommon52–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Orange-headed ThrushGeokichla citrinaResidentUncommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
HoopoeUpupa epopsResidentUncommon25–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentUncommon48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentUncommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Red JunglefowlGallus gallusResidentUncommon42–75 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.16% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaWinter visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Red-billed Blue MagpieUrocissa erythrorynchaResidentUncommon65–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaWinter visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaResidentUncommon80–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in May
Plumbeous Water-redstartPhoenicurus fuliginosusResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
White-crested LaughingthrushGarrulax leucolophusResidentUncommon27–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Black EagleIctinaetus malaiensisResidentUncommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Egyptian VultureNeophron percnopterusResidentUncommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseusResidentUncommon120–145 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxSummer visitorRare39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentRare10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
MagpiePica picaSummer visitorUncommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaWinter visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusWinter visitorUncommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentRare32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsResidentRare21–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorUncommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Sarus CraneGrus antigoneResidentUncommon152–156 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Bonelli's EagleAquila fasciataResidentRare65–72 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Malabar TrogonHarpactes fasciatusResidentUncommon25–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.02% in May
Little StintCalidris minutaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in May
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaWinter visitorUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
White-tailed RobinMyiomela leucuraSummer visitorRare16–18 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.02% in May
ChukarAlectoris chukarSummer visitorRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentRare50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melbaResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Alpine ChoughPyrrhocorax graculusSummer visitorRare36–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Blue-eared BarbetPsilopogon cyanotisResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Oriental Scops-owlOtus suniaResidentRare16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusWinter visitorRare29–31 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in May
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoResidentUncommon31–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentRare34–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Blue Rock-thrushMonticola solitariusResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Orange-breasted Green-pigeonTreron bicinctusResidentRare25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaWinter visitorUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaWinter visitorUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestrisResidentRare14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentRare12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentRare21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Booted EagleHieraaetus pennatusWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxSummer visitorRare54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Bar-headed GooseAnser indicusWinter visitorUncommon68–78 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorRare28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusWinter visitorUncommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaWinter visitorUncommon33–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentRare9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusWinter visitorUncommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentRare66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaWinter visitorUncommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaWinter visitorRare18–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in May
Great Grey ShrikeLanius excubitorWinter visitorUncommon22–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorRare16–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Sulphur-bellied WarblerPhylloscopus griseolusWinter visitorRare11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataWinter visitorUncommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolorResidentRare45–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumResidentRare13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.01% in May
Chestnut MuniaLonchura atricapillaResidentRare10–11 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusWinter visitorRare46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentRare27–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneSummer visitorRare45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentRare58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
DipperCinclus cinclusSummer visitorRare17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
WryneckJynx torquillaWinter visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentRare9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
European Bee-eaterMerops apiasterResidentRare27–29 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.00% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisWinter visitorRare36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorRare33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.00% in May
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusSummer visitorRare20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in May
Blossom-headed ParakeetPsittacula roseataWinter visitorRare33–36 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorRare16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorRare16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in May
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.00% in May
Little BitternIxobrychus minutusSummer visitorRare33–38 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in May
Little OwlAthene noctuaSummer visitorRare21–23 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.00% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusWinter visitorRare40–45 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in May
Griffon VultureGyps fulvusWinter visitorRare93–122 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsWinter visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.00% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorRare37–41 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentRare37–43 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.00% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataSummer visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiPassage migrantRare33–41 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentRare28–34 cmRegularly Nov–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