Birds to See in Japan in May
132 bird species on our list for Japan are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Barn Swallow, Carrion Crow, Grey Heron and Rock Dove. New this month: Cuckoo, Common Redpoll, Fulmar and Hobby and 6 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Japan’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 132 birds in May
132 birds
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 4.38% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 3.45% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.86% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 2.11% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in May
Blue Rock-thrushMonticola solitariusResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in May
Black-tailed GullLarus crassirostrisSummer visitorCommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in May
Japanese WagtailMotacilla grandisResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in May
CootFulica atraWinter visitorCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.47% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.41% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.40% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.40% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentUncommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorCommon32–34 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.28% in May
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Greater ScaupAythya marilaResidentCommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentCommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Dusky ThrushTurdus eunomusWinter visitorCommon23–25 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.22% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.22% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorCommon40–47 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.21% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.20% in May
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.16% in May
Red-flanked BluetailTarsiger cyanurusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusWinter visitorCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.15% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorCommon38–44 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.15% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentUncommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.13% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.11% in May
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.11% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.11% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentUncommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.08% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.08% in May
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPassage migrantUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.08% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.07% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.07% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in May
WryneckJynx torquillaResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.06% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusWinter visitorRare10–11 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataPassage migrantUncommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in May
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.04% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorUncommon18–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorRare58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.03% in May
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaWinter visitorUncommon80–90 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in May
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in May
Japanese WaxwingBombycilla japonicaWinter visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in May
Crested MynaAcridotheres cristatellusResidentRare24–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaPassage migrantUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in May
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.03% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorUncommon81–94 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in May
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorUncommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaWinter visitorRare58–77 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.03% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.02% in May
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.02% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataWinter visitorUncommon50–60 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in May
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusWinter visitorUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Vega GullLarus vegaeWinter visitorUncommon55–67 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.02% in May
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantRare18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.02% in May
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.02% in May
Long-eared OwlAsio otusResidentRare35–40 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.02% in May
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaWinter visitorUncommon58–67 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in May
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaResidentRare33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.01% in May
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusSummer visitorUncommon48–58 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.01% in May
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in May
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorRare45–50 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.01% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorRare28–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaWinter visitorRare42–45 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
Purple HeronArdea purpureaSummer visitorRare78–90 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.01% in May
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusSummer visitorRare86–230 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.01% in May
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.01% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisResidentRare69–81 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.01% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in May
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusPassage migrantRare20–27 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSummer visitorRare18–21 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Rock PtarmiganLagopus mutaSummer visitorRare34–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorRare55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisWinter visitorUncommon21–23 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in May
Oriental Scops-owlOtus suniaSummer visitorRare16–20 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.00% in May
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaPassage migrantRare10–12 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
HoopoeUpupa epopsPassage migrantRare25–32 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · 0.00% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoPassage migrantRare30–32 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