Birds to See in Ireland in May
163 bird species on our list for Ireland are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Blackbird, Hooded Crow, European Robin, Woodpigeon and Eurasian Wren. New this month: Common Swift, European Storm-petrel, Great Skua and Spotted Flycatcher and 8 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Ireland’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 163 birds in May
163 birds
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 3.62% in May
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 3.34% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.13% in May
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 3.11% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.96% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.91% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.83% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.81% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.68% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.24% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.10% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.46% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.42% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.13% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.86% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.79% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.78% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.53% in May
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.51% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.51% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.50% in May
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.46% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.45% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentUncommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.34% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxSummer visitorUncommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.28% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.22% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.21% in May
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentUncommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentCommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in May
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in May
CorncrakeCrex crexSummer visitorRare22–30 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.04% in May
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraSummer visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentRare13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentUncommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentUncommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentUncommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentRare37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentRare66–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorRare28–35 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.02% in May
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiScarceRare13–14 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.02% in May
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorUncommon50–58 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Long-eared OwlAsio otusResidentRare35–40 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.02% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorRare14–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentRare76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.01% in May
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorRare14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaResidentRare80–90 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.01% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentRare41–49 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorRare54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentRare33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisWinter visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusPassage migrantUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneWinter visitorRare45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantRare23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaWinter visitorRare80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusWinter visitorRare48–66 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in May
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisResidentRare52–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargusScarceRare43–47 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Squacco HeronArdeola ralloidesScarceRare40–49 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaWinter visitorRare58–77 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in May
American Black DuckAnas rubripesPassage migrantRare54–59 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · 0.00% in May
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisResidentRare13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 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