Birds to See in Galway in May
124 bird species on our list for Galway are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Blackbird, Barn Swallow, Hooded Crow, European Herring Gull and European Robin. New this month: Common Swift, European Storm-petrel, Spotted Flycatcher and Common Kingfisher and 4 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Galway’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 124 birds in May
124 birds
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 3.29% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 3.09% in May
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 3.03% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.02% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.74% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.61% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.58% in May
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.51% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.38% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.62% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in May
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.36% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 1.25% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 1.18% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.15% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.14% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusPassage migrantCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 1.10% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.96% in May
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.95% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.89% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.86% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.80% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.66% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.56% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.39% in May
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.38% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentUncommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentUncommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.33% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.31% in May
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.28% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.25% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxResidentUncommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.18% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.18% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.16% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.16% in May
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in May
CorncrakeCrex crexPassage migrantUncommon22–30 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.12% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.08% in May
DipperCinclus cinclusWinter visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaWinter visitorCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.07% in May
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in May
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorUncommon50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.06% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.05% in May
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentUncommon37–40 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.05% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.04% in May
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.03% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.03% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly May · 0.03% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.03% in May
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentRare37–42 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.03% in May
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · records held back in May (protected)
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.02% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusPassage migrantRare54–58 cmRegularly May · 0.02% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusSummer visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.02% in May
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Nov–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