Birds to See in Iran in May
174 bird species on our list for Iran are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are House Sparrow, Magpie, Hooded Crow, Rock Dove and Common Swift. New this month: European Honey-buzzard, Bullfinch, Arctic Jaeger and Black Tern and 1 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Iran’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 174 birds in May
174 birds
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.25% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 3.14% in May
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.86% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.58% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · 2.42% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in May
European Bee-eaterMerops apiasterSummer visitorCommon27–29 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.78% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.61% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in May
HoopoeUpupa epopsSummer visitorCommon25–32 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.45% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.36% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in May
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorCommon32–34 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.06% in May
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchosSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.00% in May
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.98% in May
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentCommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in May
Golden OrioleOriolus oriolusSummer visitorCommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.89% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentCommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.78% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in May
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorCommon19–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.55% in May
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.53% in May
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusSummer visitorCommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.52% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantCommon18–19 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.52% in May
Squacco HeronArdeola ralloidesSummer visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in May
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxResidentCommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in May
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsWinter visitorCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentCommon32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
Little BitternIxobrychus minutusSummer visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.44% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorCommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
Purple HeronArdea purpureaSummer visitorUncommon78–90 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.43% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentUncommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.41% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.41% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaWinter visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
Little StintCalidris minutaResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosResidentCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.32% in May
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxSummer visitorCommon20–32 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.30% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.29% in May
Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestrisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.28% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentCommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.27% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoWinter visitorCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseusResidentCommon120–145 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.25% in May
Blue Rock-thrushMonticola solitariusResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.24% in May
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaResidentUncommon80–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusSummer visitorUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaWinter visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorCommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melbaSummer visitorCommon20–23 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.20% in May
PochardAythya ferinaResidentCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentUncommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaResidentCommon33–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Eurasian Scops-owlOtus scopsSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.19% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Rufous-tailed Rock-thrushMonticola saxatilisSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.19% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusPassage migrantUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.19% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.18% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.18% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentUncommon53–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentUncommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Moustached WarblerAcrocephalus melanopogonResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentUncommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Desert FinchRhodospiza obsoletaResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.15% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsResidentUncommon21–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Marsh WarblerAcrocephalus palustrisPassage migrantUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.14% in May
Alpine ChoughPyrrhocorax graculusSummer visitorUncommon36–39 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.14% in May
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaWinter visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.14% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Egyptian VultureNeophron percnopterusSummer visitorUncommon55–65 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.12% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaWinter visitorCommon58–67 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.12% in May
NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusSummer visitorUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in May
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Booted EagleHieraaetus pennatusPassage migrantCommon42–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.11% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinPassage migrantUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.10% in May
Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactylaWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.10% in May
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.10% in May
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturSummer visitorUncommon26–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.10% in May
Griffon VultureGyps fulvusSummer visitorUncommon93–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorusPassage migrantCommon52–60 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixSummer visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.08% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Savi's WarblerLocustella luscinioidesPassage migrantUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.08% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusWinter visitorCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
DipperCinclus cinclusSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Long-eared OwlAsio otusResidentUncommon35–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.07% in May
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Great Grey ShrikeLanius excubitorResidentUncommon22–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargusSummer visitorUncommon43–47 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.07% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisSummer visitorUncommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
WoodlarkLullula arboreaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.06% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaWinter visitorUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.06% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosWinter visitorCommon20–23 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.06% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoPassage migrantUncommon37–43 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.06% in May
Woodchat ShrikeLanius senatorSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.06% in May
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataWinter visitorCommon50–60 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in May
Pallid SwiftApus pallidusWinter visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusWinter visitorCommon40–45 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in May
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.04% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.04% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in May
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisWinter visitorUncommon69–81 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.03% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisWinter visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in May
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.03% in May
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaPassage migrantUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.02% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusWinter visitorUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusWinter visitorUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaWinter visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.02% in May
Eurasian Stone-curlewBurhinus oedicnemusPassage migrantUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.02% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Spotted CrakePorzana porzanaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in May
WryneckJynx torquillaPassage migrantUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantRare22–26 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
CorncrakeCrex crexPassage migrantRare22–30 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Hooded WheatearOenanthe monachaWinter visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% 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