Birds to See in Mongolia in May
161 bird species on our list for Mongolia are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Ruddy Shelduck, Common Raven, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Mallard and Horned Lark. New this month: Common Tern, Cuckoo, Yellow-browed Warbler and White-winged Tern and 55 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Mongolia’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 161 birds in May
161 birds
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaResidentCommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosSummer visitorCommon50–65 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.50% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in May
MagpiePica picaWinter visitorCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in May
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxResidentCommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in May
Cinereous VultureAegypius monachusResidentCommon98–120 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in May
GadwallMareca streperaSummer visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.11% in May
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusSummer visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.05% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaSummer visitorCommon58–67 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.03% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.01% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.00% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.98% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusSummer visitorCommon28–31 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.98% in May
PochardAythya ferinaSummer visitorCommon42–49 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.96% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.94% in May
Vega GullLarus vegaeSummer visitorCommon55–67 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.91% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.89% in May
HoopoeUpupa epopsSummer visitorCommon25–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.88% in May
RedshankTringa totanusSummer visitorCommon27–29 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.85% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaSummer visitorCommon17–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.85% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaSummer visitorCommon40–47 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.84% in May
CootFulica atraSummer visitorCommon36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.81% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaWinter visitorCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaSummer visitorCommon90–98 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.80% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.78% in May
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesSummer visitorCommon81–94 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.78% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.75% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.75% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.74% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneWinter visitorCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in May
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaSummer visitorCommon42–45 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.68% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeSummer visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.66% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.66% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboSummer visitorCommon80–100 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.64% in May
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.62% in May
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusSummer visitorCommon20–27 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.60% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusSummer visitorCommon46–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.58% in May
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaSummer visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.58% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorCommon32–34 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.58% in May
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.57% in May
Bar-headed GooseAnser indicusSummer visitorCommon68–78 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.56% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.55% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusSummer visitorCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaSummer visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.52% in May
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.51% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusSummer visitorCommon38–44 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.48% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.46% in May
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaSummer visitorCommon80–90 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.46% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.46% in May
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorCommon19–21 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.43% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.42% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserSummer visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.42% in May
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusSummer visitorCommon10–11 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.41% in May
Common CraneGrus grusSummer visitorCommon100–130 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.41% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserSummer visitorCommon75–90 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.40% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.39% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorCommon40–44 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.38% in May
Dusky ThrushTurdus eunomusPassage migrantCommon23–25 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.38% in May
Great TitParus majorWinter visitorCommonRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.37% in May
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusSummer visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.36% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoSummer visitorCommon30–32 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.33% in May
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaSummer visitorUncommon53–57 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.32% in May
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.31% in May
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.30% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoSummer visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in May
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentCommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
WryneckJynx torquillaSummer visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.27% in May
Little StintCalidris minutaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.27% in May
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorUncommon33–42 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.26% in May
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusSummer visitorCommon29–31 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.26% in May
Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestrisSummer visitorUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.25% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.24% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.24% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in May
Booted EagleHieraaetus pennatusSummer visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.23% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.22% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.21% in May
Willow TitPoecile montanusWinter visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.20% in May
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaSummer visitorCommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.20% in May
ChukarAlectoris chukarSummer visitorUncommon32–38 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.19% in May
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.19% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in May
Rufous-tailed Rock-thrushMonticola saxatilisSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.18% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataSummer visitorUncommon41–49 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in May
Red-flanked BluetailTarsiger cyanurusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in May
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.16% in May
Great Grey ShrikeLanius excubitorSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.16% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.15% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorWinter visitorCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.14% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.14% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterWinter visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.14% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.14% in May
Taiga Bean GooseAnser fabalisPassage migrantCommon68–88 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in May
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in May
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaSummer visitorCommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.13% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.11% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in May
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusPassage migrantUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorSummer visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaSummer visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.10% in May
Little OwlAthene noctuaSummer visitorUncommon21–23 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.10% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusWinter visitorCommon32–35 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.10% in May
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaSummer visitorUncommon66–94 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.10% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisPassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.09% in May
SmewMergellus albellusSummer visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in May
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusPassage migrantCommon41–52 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.09% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusSummer visitorUncommon48–56 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisSummer visitorCommon21–23 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.09% in May
Oriental Honey-buzzardPernis ptilorhynchusPassage migrantUncommon52–68 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in May
Common GullLarus canusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorSummer visitorUncommon140–160 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in May
Long-eared OwlAsio otusPassage migrantCommon35–40 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.07% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in May
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaSummer visitorUncommon58–77 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.07% in May
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisSummer visitorUncommon69–81 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.06% in May
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaPassage migrantCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisSummer visitorUncommon23–29 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataSummer visitorUncommon50–60 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaSummer visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in May
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in May
Black GrouseLyrurus tetrixPassage migrantUncommon40–55 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.04% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoPassage migrantUncommon51–57 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Northern GoshawkAstur gentilisWinter visitorUncommon46–61 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactylaSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.04% in May
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisPassage migrantUncommon37–60 cmRegularly May · 0.03% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusPassage migrantRare54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in May
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusSummer visitorUncommon24–28 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.03% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantUncommon64–81 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxPassage migrantRare58–65 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.02% in May
Sulphur-bellied WarblerPhylloscopus griseolusSummer visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.02% in May
Savi's WarblerLocustella luscinioidesPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.02% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusPassage migrantUncommon52–64 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Desert FinchRhodospiza obsoletaPassage migrantUncommon13–14 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.01% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosPassage migrantRare20–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.01% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostrisScarceRare66–84 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaPassage migrantUncommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Jun · 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