Birds to See in Latvia in May
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.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
Willow WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Lesser WhitethroatBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Common RedstartBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
European Pied FlycatcherBusiest month of the year · Apr–Aug
WhinchatBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Yellow WagtailBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
From Latvia’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 186 birds in May
186 birds
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.97% in May
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.94% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisSummer visitorCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.36% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 2.31% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 2.08% in May- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.90% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in May
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusSummer visitorCommon40–42 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 1.85% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.55% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Aug · 1.48% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.45% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.44% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in May
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.24% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.24% in May- Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.20% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 1.13% in May- Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.12% in May
- European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.09% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in May
Common CraneGrus grusSummer visitorCommon100–130 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 1.04% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in May
MagpiePica picaWinter visitorCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in May- WhinchatSaxicola rubetraSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.89% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusSummer visitorCommon28–31 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.86% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorCommon58–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.85% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.85% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaWinter visitorCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.82% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon22–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosSummer visitorCommon20–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.81% in May
FieldfareTurdus pilarisResidentCommon22–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.80% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.79% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusSummer visitorCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.75% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.74% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusSummer visitorCommon48–56 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.71% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in May
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaResidentCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in May
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in May
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.65% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusWinter visitorCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.63% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.61% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May- Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.57% in May
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.53% in May
Golden OrioleOriolus oriolusSummer visitorCommon22–24 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.52% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.48% in May
Savi's WarblerLocustella luscinioidesSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.48% in May
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisPassage migrantUncommon69–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.47% in May
WoodlarkLullula arboreaSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.47% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.47% in May
SerinSerinus serinusSummer visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.46% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Marsh WarblerAcrocephalus palustrisSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.38% in May
GadwallMareca streperaSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.37% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentCommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaWinter visitorCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.32% in May
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantCommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.32% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusSummer visitorCommon27–28 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.32% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
WryneckJynx torquillaSummer visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.30% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.28% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.28% in May
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.26% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserSummer visitorUncommon75–90 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.26% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.26% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Crested TitLophophanes cristatusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.25% in May
HoopoeUpupa epopsSummer visitorUncommon25–32 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.24% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaSummer visitorUncommon58–67 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.23% in May
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaSummer visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.23% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.23% in May
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisWinter visitorCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostrisPassage migrantCommon66–84 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.23% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusSummer visitorUncommon31–39 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeSummer visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.21% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.20% in May
PochardAythya ferinaSummer visitorUncommon42–49 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.20% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.19% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.19% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.18% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.17% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.17% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxSummer visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.17% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.16% in May
CorncrakeCrex crexSummer visitorCommon22–30 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.16% in May
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaPassage migrantUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.16% in May
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaPassage migrantUncommon58–77 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.16% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoSummer visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.16% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusSummer visitorUncommon40–45 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.16% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasSummer visitorUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.15% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.14% in May
European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorusSummer visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.14% in May
RedshankTringa totanusSummer visitorUncommon27–29 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.14% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorSummer visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.13% in May
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaPassage migrantUncommon9–10 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in May
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaWinter visitorUncommon51–58 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.12% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusWinter visitorCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantCommon16–22 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.11% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusSummer visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.11% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.10% in May
Willow TitPoecile montanusWinter visitorCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargusSummer visitorUncommon43–47 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.09% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaPassage migrantUncommon50–71 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.08% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.08% in May
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoSummer visitorUncommon30–32 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.08% in May
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in May
NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusSummer visitorUncommon24–28 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in May
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in May
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.07% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.07% in May
Northern GoshawkAstur gentilisWinter visitorCommon46–61 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorCommon64–79 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsPassage migrantUncommon21–25 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.07% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataPassage migrantUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in May
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusPassage migrantUncommon29–31 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.06% in May
Black GrouseLyrurus tetrixPassage migrantUncommon40–55 cmRegularly Jan–May · 0.06% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.06% in May
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturPassage migrantUncommon26–28 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.05% in May
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusPassage migrantUncommon20–27 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.05% in May
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaPassage migrantUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.05% in May
RedwingTurdus iliacusSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixPassage migrantUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataSummer visitorUncommon50–60 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.04% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaPassage migrantUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.04% in May
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in May
Western CapercaillieTetrao urogallusPassage migrantUncommon60–87 cmRegularly Feb–May · 0.04% in May
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusPassage migrantUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.03% in May
Little BitternIxobrychus minutusPassage migrantRare33–38 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.03% in May
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixSummer visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.03% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusPassage migrantUncommon60–66 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.03% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisPassage migrantUncommon76–110 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in May
Taiga Bean GooseAnser fabalisPassage migrantUncommon68–88 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.02% in May
European Bee-eaterMerops apiasterPassage migrantRare27–29 cmRegularly May · 0.02% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusPassage migrantUncommon36–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Spotted CrakePorzana porzanaPassage migrantRare19–23 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.02% in May
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaPassage migrantRare42–45 cmRegularly May · 0.02% in May
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusPassage migrantUncommon31–38 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisPassage migrantUncommon30–36 cmRegularly Jan–May · 0.01% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly 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