Birds to See in Latvia in May
186 species listed for May · birdwatchers' records, 2019–2024
186 bird species on our list for Latvia are recorded regularly in May. Of these, the most often recorded are Chaffinch, Hooded Crow, Common Starling, Blackbird and Chiffchaff. New this month: Common Swift, Whitethroat, House Martin and Common Rosefinch and 29 more.
New in May33
- Common Swift
- Whitethroat
- House Martin
- Common Rosefinch
- Garden Warbler
- Spotted Flycatcher
- Marsh Warbler
- Golden Oriole
- Red-backed Shrike
- Dunlin
- Common Reed-warbler
- Corncrake
- Hobby
- European Honey-buzzard
- Sand Martin
- Black Tern
- Grasshopper Warbler
- Grey Plover
- Arctic Tern
- Nightjar
- Spotted Redshank
- Temminck's Stint
- Common Quail
- Horned Grebe
- Little Tern
- European Turtle-dove
- White-winged Tern
- Bluethroat
- Little Bittern
- Spotted Crake
- European Bee-eater
- Red-necked Phalarope
- Avocet
Residents
(36)Recorded all year
Hooded Crow
Corvus cornixLC
Recorded all year
Blackbird
Turdus merulaLC
Recorded all year
Great Tit
Parus majorLC
Recorded all year
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
Recorded all year
Black-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus ridibundusLC
Recorded all year
European Herring Gull
Larus argentatusLC
Recorded all year
Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleusLC
Recorded all year
Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinellaLC
Recorded all year
Mute Swan
Cygnus olorLC
Recorded all year
Rock Dove
Columba liviaLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Passer montanusLC
Recorded all year
House Sparrow
Passer domesticusLC
Recorded all year
Grey Heron
Ardea cinereaLC
Recorded all year
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos majorLC
Recorded all year
Fieldfare
Turdus pilarisLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Siskin
Spinus spinusLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Wren
Troglodytes troglodytesLC
Recorded all year
Greenfinch
Chloris chlorisLC
Recorded all year
Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carboLC
Recorded all year
Goldeneye
Bucephala clangulaLC
Recorded all year
Coot
Fulica atraLC
Recorded all year
Buzzard
Buteo buteoLC
Recorded all year
Common Gull
Larus canusLC
Recorded all year
Hawfinch
Coccothraustes coccothraustesLC
Recorded all year
Goldcrest
Regulus regulusLC
Recorded all year
White-tailed Sea-eagle
Haliaeetus albicillaLC
Recorded all year
Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligulaLC
Recorded all year
Treecreeper
Certhia familiarisLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Teal
Anas creccaLC
Recorded all year
Crested Tit
Lophophanes cristatusLC
Recorded all year
Rook
Corvus frugilegusLC
Recorded all year
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostraLC
Recorded all year
Coal Tit
Periparus aterLC
Recorded all year
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthisLC
Recorded all year
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Dryobates minorLC
Recorded all year
Tawny Owl
Strix alucoLC
Recorded all year
Summer visitors
(92)Arrives to breed; scarce or absent in winter
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebsLC
Recorded all year
Common Starling
Sturnus vulgarisLC
Recorded all year
Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybitaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Pied Wagtail
Motacilla albaLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Woodpigeon
Columba palumbusLC
Regularly Jan–Nov
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rusticaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Whitethroat
Curruca communisLC
Regularly May–Aug
Blackcap
Sylvia atricapillaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Cuckoo
Cuculus canorusLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Wood Warbler
Phylloscopus sibilatrixLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
European Robin
Erithacus rubeculaLC
Regularly Mar–Dec
Lesser Whitethroat
Curruca currucaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Eurasian Skylark
Alauda arvensisLC
Regularly Feb–Oct
Common Redstart
Phoenicurus phoenicurusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
European Pied Flycatcher
Ficedula hypoleucaLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Common Crane
Grus grusLC
Regularly Feb–Oct
Whinchat
Saxicola rubetraLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellusNT
Regularly Feb–Nov
Common Swift
Apus apusLC
Regularly May–Aug
House Martin
Delichon urbicumLC
Regularly May–Sep
Common Tern
Sterna hirundoLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelosLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialisLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Common Rosefinch
Carpodacus erythrinusLC
Regularly May–Jul
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatusLC
Recorded all year
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelisLC
Recorded all year
Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclusLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Sedge Warbler
Acrocephalus schoenobaenusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Western Marsh-harrier
Circus aeruginosusLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Great White Egret
Ardea albaLC
Recorded all year
Black Redstart
Phoenicurus ochrurosLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Garden Warbler
Sylvia borinLC
Regularly May–Jul
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucosLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flavaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Linnet
Linaria cannabinaLC
Recorded all year
Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striataLC
Regularly May–Sep
Golden Oriole
Oriolus oriolusLC
Regularly May–Aug
Common Reed-warbler
Acrocephalus scirpaceusLC
Regularly May–Aug
Savi's Warbler
Locustella luscinioidesLC
Regularly Apr–Jul
Woodlark
Lullula arboreaLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Wheatear
Oenanthe oenantheLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Serin
Serinus serinusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Marsh Warbler
Acrocephalus palustrisLC
Regularly May–Aug
Gadwall
Mareca streperaLC
Regularly Mar–Dec
Red-backed Shrike
Lanius collurioLC
Regularly May–Aug
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorusLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Wryneck
Jynx torquillaLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Hobby
Falco subbuteoLC
Regularly May–Sep
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensisLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Wood Sandpiper
Tringa glareolaLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Greylag Goose
Anser anserLC
Regularly Feb–Nov
Little Ringed Plover
Thinornis dubiusLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Green Sandpiper
Tringa ochropusLC
Regularly Mar–Aug
Hoopoe
Upupa epopsLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Common Shelduck
Tadorna tadornaLC
Regularly Mar–Sep
Eurasian Woodcock
Scolopax rusticolaLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Little Gull
Hydrocoloeus minutusLC
Regularly Oct–Jul
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Eurasian Wigeon
Mareca penelopeLC
Regularly Mar–Jan
Pochard
Aythya ferinaVU
Regularly Jan–Nov
Sandwich Tern
Thalasseus sandvicensisLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Grasshopper Warbler
Locustella naeviaLC
Regularly May–Jul
Black Tern
Chlidonias nigerLC
Regularly May–Aug
Dunnock
Prunella modularisLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Garganey
Spatula querquedulaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Sand Martin
Riparia ripariaLC
Regularly May–Aug
Greenshank
Tringa nebulariaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Ruff
Calidris pugnaxLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeataLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Corncrake
Crex crexLC
Regularly May–Jul
Common Snipe
Gallinago gallinagoLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegusNT
Regularly Mar–Sep
Stock Dove
Columba oenasLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Osprey
Pandion haliaetusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
European Honey-buzzard
Pernis apivorusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Redshank
Tringa totanusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serratorLC
Regularly Mar–Jan
Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticulaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Water Rail
Rallus aquaticusLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Arctic Tern
Sterna paradisaeaLC
Regularly May–Aug
Montagu's Harrier
Circus pygargusLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscusLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Eurasian Collared Dove
Streptopelia decaoctoLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Nightjar
Caprimulgus europaeusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Bearded Tit
Panurus biarmicusLC
Regularly Apr–Dec
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropusLC
Regularly Feb–Oct
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinereaLC
Regularly Mar–Aug
Redwing
Turdus iliacusNT
Regularly Mar–Oct
Curlew
Numenius arquataNT
Regularly Apr–Aug
Common Quail
Coturnix coturnixLC
Regularly May–Jul
Black-tailed Godwit
Limosa limosaNT
Regularly Apr–Jul
Winter visitors
(21)Present outside the breeding season
Magpie
Pica picaLC
Recorded all year
Common Raven
Corvus coraxLC
Recorded all year
Jackdaw
Coloeus monedulaLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Jay
Garrulus glandariusLC
Recorded all year
Common Merganser
Mergus merganserLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Nuthatch
Sitta europaeaLC
Recorded all year
Whooper Swan
Cygnus cygnusLC
Recorded all year
Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhulaLC
Recorded all year
Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisusLC
Recorded all year
Marsh Tit
Poecile palustrisLC
Recorded all year
Long-tailed Duck
Clangula hyemalisVU
Regularly Oct–May
Common Scoter
Melanitta nigraLC
Regularly Aug–Jun
Velvet Scoter
Melanitta fuscaVU
Regularly Aug–May
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatusLC
Recorded all year
Willow Tit
Poecile montanusLC
Recorded all year
Brambling
Fringilla montifringillaLC
Regularly Sep–May
Greater Scaup
Aythya marilaLC
Regularly Sep–May
Northern Goshawk
Astur gentilisLC
Recorded all year
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammeaLC
Regularly Oct–May
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinusLC
Regularly Jul–May
Rough-legged Hawk
Buteo lagopusLC
Regularly Sep–May
Passage migrants
(37)Seen mainly in spring and autumn migration
Eurasian Bittern
Botaurus stellarisLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Greater White-fronted Goose
Anser albifronsLC
Regularly Sep–May
Tundra Bean Goose
Anser serrirostrisLC
Regularly Sep–May
Red-necked Grebe
Podiceps grisegenaLC
Regularly Apr–Jun
Arctic Loon
Gavia arcticaLC
Regularly Apr–Jan
Firecrest
Regulus ignicapillaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Dunlin
Calidris alpinaLC
Regularly May–Nov
Eider
Somateria mollissimaNT
Regularly Apr–Aug
Barnacle Goose
Branta leucopsisLC
Regularly Oct–May
Little Tern
Sternula albifronsLC
Regularly May–Aug
Red-throated Loon
Gavia stellataLC
Regularly Oct–May
Spotted Redshank
Tringa erythropusLC
Regularly May–Oct
Arctic Jaeger
Stercorarius parasiticusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarolaLC
Regularly May–Oct
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopusLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Black Grouse
Lyrurus tetrixLC
Regularly Jan–May
European Turtle-dove
Streptopelia turturVU
Regularly May–Aug
White-winged Tern
Chlidonias leucopterusLC
Regularly May–Jun
Golden Plover
Pluvialis apricariaLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Grey Partridge
Perdix perdixLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Bluethroat
Luscinia svecicaLC
Regularly May–Sep
Merlin
Falco columbariusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Northern Pintail
Anas acutaLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Western Capercaillie
Tetrao urogallusLC
Regularly Feb–May
Hen Harrier
Circus cyaneusLC
Regularly Feb–Nov
Little Bittern
Ixobrychus minutusLC
Regularly May–Jun
Temminck's Stint
Calidris temminckiiLC
Regularly May–Sep
Red Kite
Milvus milvusLC
Regularly Apr–Jun
Canada Goose
Branta canadensisLC
Regularly Sep–May
Taiga Bean Goose
Anser fabalisLC
Regularly Oct–May
European Bee-eater
Merops apiasterLC
Regularly May
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Spotted Crake
Porzana porzanaLC
Regularly May–Jun
Avocet
Recurvirostra avosettaLC
Regularly May
Horned Grebe
Podiceps auritusVU
Regularly May–Oct
European Green Woodpecker
Picus viridisLC
Regularly Jan–May
Red-necked Phalarope
Phalaropus lobatusLC
Regularly 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