Birds to See in Mongolia in May
161 species listed for May · birdwatchers' records, 2019–2024
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.
New in May59
- Common Tern
- Cuckoo
- Yellow-browed Warbler
- White-winged Tern
- Red Crossbill
- Wood Sandpiper
- Common Rosefinch
- Lesser Whitethroat
- Spotted Redshank
- Temminck's Stint
- Black-tailed Godwit
- Pacific Golden-Plover
- Curlew Sandpiper
- Greenshank
- Tree Pipit
- Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush
- Black-necked Grebe
- Red-necked Phalarope
- Ruddy Turnstone
- Spotted Flycatcher
- Arctic Loon
- Black Grouse
- Curlew
- Little Stint
- Gull-billed Tern
- Little Tern
- Whitethroat
- Wryneck
- Horned Grebe
- Nightjar
- Hobby
- Black Tern
- Grey Plover
- Ruff
- Whimbrel
- Red-breasted Merganser
- Mute Swan
- Ringed Plover
- Oriental Honey-buzzard
- Greater White-fronted Goose
- Yellowhammer
- Linnet
- Sanderling
- Willow Warbler
- Sulphur-bellied Warbler
- Dunlin
- Red-necked Grebe
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Grasshopper Warbler
- Desert Finch
- Common Kingfisher
- Eurasian Bittern
- Long-tailed Duck
- Black-crowned Night-heron
- Little Gull
- Song Thrush
- Savi's Warbler
- Tundra Bean Goose
- Bar-tailed Godwit
Leaving after last month6
Residents
(8)Recorded all year
Ruddy Shelduck
Tadorna ferrugineaLC
Recorded all year
Common Raven
Corvus coraxLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Passer montanusLC
Recorded all year
Horned Lark
Eremophila alpestrisLC
Recorded all year
Red-billed Chough
Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxLC
Recorded all year
Cinereous Vulture
Aegypius monachusNT
Recorded all year
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculusLC
Recorded all year
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetosLC
Recorded all year
Summer visitors
(110)Arrives to breed; scarce or absent in winter
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
Regularly Mar–Jan
Gadwall
Mareca streperaLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Whooper Swan
Cygnus cygnusLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Common Shelduck
Tadorna tadornaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Little Ringed Plover
Thinornis dubiusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rusticaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Pied Wagtail
Motacilla albaLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellusNT
Regularly Mar–Oct
Pochard
Aythya ferinaVU
Regularly Apr–Oct
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeataLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Vega Gull
Larus vegaeLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Wheatear
Oenanthe oenantheLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Hoopoe
Upupa epopsLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Redshank
Tringa totanusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinereaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligulaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Coot
Fulica atraLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Grey Heron
Ardea cinereaLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Eurasian Teal
Anas creccaLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Swan Goose
Anser cygnoidesEN
Regularly Mar–Oct
Common Tern
Sterna hirundoLC
Regularly May–Sep
Garganey
Spatula querquedulaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucosLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Avocet
Recurvirostra avosettaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Eurasian Wigeon
Mareca penelopeLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Eurasian Skylark
Alauda arvensisLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carboLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Common Rosefinch
Carpodacus erythrinusLC
Regularly May–Oct
White-winged Tern
Chlidonias leucopterusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Goldeneye
Bucephala clangulaLC
Regularly Jan–Oct
Cuckoo
Cuculus canorusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Bar-headed Goose
Anser indicusLC
Regularly Mar–Sep
Common Swift
Apus apusLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Rook
Corvus frugilegusLC
Recorded all year
Northern Pintail
Anas acutaLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Black-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus ridibundusLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Kentish Plover
Charadrius alexandrinusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Eurasian Spoonbill
Platalea leucorodiaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Lesser Whitethroat
Curruca currucaLC
Regularly May–Oct
Wood Sandpiper
Tringa glareolaLC
Regularly May–Sep
Sand Martin
Riparia ripariaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Common Merganser
Mergus merganserLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Yellow-browed Warbler
Phylloscopus inornatusLC
Regularly May–Oct
Common Crane
Grus grusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Greylag Goose
Anser anserLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Black-necked Grebe
Podiceps nigricollisLC
Regularly May–Oct
Black-tailed Godwit
Limosa limosaNT
Regularly May–Sep
Green Sandpiper
Tringa ochropusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Eurasian Collared Dove
Streptopelia decaoctoLC
Regularly Feb–Dec
Red-crested Pochard
Netta rufinaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Water Pipit
Anthus spinolettaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Horned Grebe
Podiceps auritusVU
Regularly May–Oct
Common Snipe
Gallinago gallinagoLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Wryneck
Jynx torquillaLC
Regularly May–Sep
Little Stint
Calidris minutaLC
Regularly May–Sep
Gull-billed Tern
Gelochelidon niloticaLC
Regularly May–Aug
Spotted Redshank
Tringa erythropusLC
Regularly May–Oct
Crag Martin
Ptyonoprogne rupestrisLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Hobby
Falco subbuteoLC
Regularly May–Sep
Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Booted Eagle
Hieraaetus pennatusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Greenshank
Tringa nebulariaLC
Regularly May–Oct
Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclusLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Pacific Golden-Plover
Pluvialis fulvaLC
Regularly May–Oct
Chukar
Alectoris chukarLC
Regularly Feb–Nov
Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybitaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush
Monticola saxatilisLC
Regularly May–Sep
Great White Egret
Ardea albaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Mandarin Duck
Aix galericulataLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Red-flanked Bluetail
Tarsiger cyanurusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Common Redstart
Phoenicurus phoenicurusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Twite
Linaria flavirostrisLC
Regularly Feb–Dec
Great Grey Shrike
Lanius excubitorLC
Regularly Apr–Jan
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Black Tern
Chlidonias nigerLC
Regularly May–Aug
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpresLC
Regularly May–Sep
Black Redstart
Phoenicurus ochrurosLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Curlew Sandpiper
Calidris ferrugineaNT
Regularly May–Sep
Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striataLC
Regularly May–Sep
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialisLC
Regularly May–Oct
Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flavaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serratorLC
Regularly May–Oct
Dunlin
Calidris alpinaLC
Regularly May–Sep
Little Owl
Athene noctuaLC
Regularly Feb–Dec
White-tailed Sea-eagle
Haliaeetus albicillaLC
Regularly Apr–Nov
Smew
Mergellus albellusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Sanderling
Calidris albaLC
Regularly May–Sep
Western Marsh-harrier
Circus aeruginosusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Common Starling
Sturnus vulgarisLC
Regularly Apr–Dec
Common Gull
Larus canusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Whitethroat
Curruca communisLC
Regularly May–Sep
Mute Swan
Cygnus olorLC
Regularly May–Oct
Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarolaLC
Regularly May–Oct
Arctic Loon
Gavia arcticaLC
Regularly May–Aug
Eurasian Bittern
Botaurus stellarisLC
Regularly May–Sep
Little Tern
Sternula albifronsLC
Regularly May–Sep
Bearded Tit
Panurus biarmicusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Red-necked Phalarope
Phalaropus lobatusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollisLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Curlew
Numenius arquataNT
Regularly May–Sep
Eurasian Woodcock
Scolopax rusticolaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Short-toed Lark
Calandrella brachydactylaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Red-necked Grebe
Podiceps grisegenaLC
Regularly May–Oct
Nightjar
Caprimulgus europaeusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticulaLC
Regularly May–Aug
Sulphur-bellied Warbler
Phylloscopus griseolusLC
Regularly May–Aug
Linnet
Linaria cannabinaLC
Regularly May–Jul
Winter visitors
(14)Present outside the breeding season
Magpie
Pica picaLC
Recorded all year
Rock Dove
Columba liviaLC
Recorded all year
Carrion Crow
Corvus coroneLC
Recorded all year
House Sparrow
Passer domesticusLC
Recorded all year
Hawfinch
Coccothraustes coccothraustesLC
Regularly Oct–Jun
Great Tit
Parus majorLC
Regularly Sep–Jun
Willow Tit
Poecile montanusLC
Regularly Sep–Jul
Brambling
Fringilla montifringillaLC
Regularly Sep–May
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos majorLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Nuthatch
Sitta europaeaLC
Regularly Sep–Jul
Coal Tit
Periparus aterLC
Regularly Sep–Jul
Eurasian Jay
Garrulus glandariusLC
Regularly Oct–May
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostraLC
Regularly Oct–Jul
Northern Goshawk
Astur gentilisLC
Recorded all year
Passage migrants
(28)Seen mainly in spring and autumn migration
Temminck's Stint
Calidris temminckiiLC
Regularly May–Sep
Dusky Thrush
Turdus eunomusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Eurasian Siskin
Spinus spinusLC
Regularly Sep–Jun
Taiga Bean Goose
Anser fabalisLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Tundra Swan
Cygnus columbianusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Greenfinch
Chloris chlorisLC
Regularly Apr–Dec
Hen Harrier
Circus cyaneusLC
Regularly Apr–Jan
Oriental Honey-buzzard
Pernis ptilorhynchusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Ruff
Calidris pugnaxLC
Regularly May–Sep
Long-eared Owl
Asio otusLC
Regularly Feb–Dec
Bluethroat
Luscinia svecicaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Lapland Longspur
Calcarius lapponicusLC
Regularly Sep–May
Black Grouse
Lyrurus tetrixLC
Regularly May–Dec
Buzzard
Buteo buteoLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Little Gull
Hydrocoloeus minutusLC
Regularly May–Aug
Long-tailed Duck
Clangula hyemalisVU
Regularly May
Osprey
Pandion haliaetusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthisLC
Regularly May–Sep
Greater White-fronted Goose
Anser albifronsLC
Regularly May–Oct
Black-crowned Night-heron
Nycticorax nycticoraxLC
Regularly May–Jun
Savi's Warbler
Locustella luscinioidesLC
Regularly May–Aug
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscusLC
Regularly May–Oct
Desert Finch
Rhodospiza obsoletaLC
Regularly May–Jun
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelosLC
Regularly May–Sep
Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Bar-tailed Godwit
Limosa lapponicaNT
Regularly May–Aug
Grasshopper Warbler
Locustella naeviaLC
Regularly May–Sep
Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinellaLC
Regularly May–Jun
Scarce visitors
(1)Recorded in some years but not every year
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