Birds to See in Netherlands in May
227 species listed for May · birdwatchers' records, 2019–2024
227 bird species on our list for Netherlands are recorded regularly in May. Of these, the most often recorded are Blackbird, Mallard, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow and Coot. New this month: Marsh Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Whooper Swan and Curlew Sandpiper and 18 more.
New in May22
- Marsh Warbler
- Spotted Flycatcher
- Whooper Swan
- Curlew Sandpiper
- European Honey-buzzard
- Golden Oriole
- Red-backed Shrike
- Nightjar
- Common Quail
- Red-necked Phalarope
- Pectoral Sandpiper
- Grey Phalarope
- Little Bittern
- Cackling Goose
- White-winged Tern
- Common Rosefinch
- European Bee-eater
- Iceland Gull
- Buff-breasted Sandpiper
- Corncrake
- Woodchat Shrike
- Eurasian Stone-curlew
Residents
(101)Recorded all year
Blackbird
Turdus merulaLC
Recorded all year
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
Recorded all year
Woodpigeon
Columba palumbusLC
Recorded all year
Carrion Crow
Corvus coroneLC
Recorded all year
Coot
Fulica atraLC
Recorded all year
Greylag Goose
Anser anserLC
Recorded all year
Great Tit
Parus majorLC
Recorded all year
Jackdaw
Coloeus monedulaLC
Recorded all year
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebsLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Wren
Troglodytes troglodytesLC
Recorded all year
Magpie
Pica picaLC
Recorded all year
Grey Heron
Ardea cinereaLC
Recorded all year
Black-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus ridibundusLC
Recorded all year
Common Starling
Sturnus vulgarisLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegusNT
Recorded all year
Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleusLC
Recorded all year
Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellusNT
Recorded all year
Gadwall
Mareca streperaLC
Recorded all year
Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carboLC
Recorded all year
Egyptian Goose
Alopochen aegyptiacaLC
Recorded all year
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatusLC
Recorded all year
Mute Swan
Cygnus olorLC
Recorded all year
Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligulaLC
Recorded all year
European Robin
Erithacus rubeculaLC
Recorded all year
Buzzard
Buteo buteoLC
Recorded all year
Common Shelduck
Tadorna tadornaLC
Recorded all year
House Sparrow
Passer domesticusLC
Recorded all year
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelosLC
Recorded all year
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos majorLC
Recorded all year
European Herring Gull
Larus argentatusLC
Recorded all year
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelisLC
Recorded all year
Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclusLC
Recorded all year
Redshank
Tringa totanusLC
Recorded all year
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropusLC
Recorded all year
Canada Goose
Branta canadensisLC
Recorded all year
Common Pheasant
Phasianus colchicusLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Jay
Garrulus glandariusLC
Recorded all year
Short-toed Treecreeper
Certhia brachydactylaLC
Recorded all year
Dunnock
Prunella modularisLC
Recorded all year
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculusLC
Recorded all year
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeataLC
Recorded all year
Greenfinch
Chloris chlorisLC
Recorded all year
Stock Dove
Columba oenasLC
Recorded all year
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensisLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Collared Dove
Streptopelia decaoctoLC
Recorded all year
Barnacle Goose
Branta leucopsisLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Skylark
Alauda arvensisLC
Recorded all year
Cetti's Warbler
Cettia cettiLC
Recorded all year
Pochard
Aythya ferinaVU
Recorded all year
Great White Egret
Ardea albaLC
Recorded all year
Rock Dove
Columba liviaLC
Recorded all year
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Psittacula krameriLC
Recorded all year
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatusLC
Recorded all year
Common Gull
Larus canusLC
Recorded all year
Curlew
Numenius arquataNT
Recorded all year
Eurasian Nuthatch
Sitta europaeaLC
Recorded all year
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollisLC
Recorded all year
European Green Woodpecker
Picus viridisLC
Recorded all year
Woodlark
Lullula arboreaLC
Recorded all year
Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinellaLC
Recorded all year
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinusLC
Recorded all year
Hawfinch
Coccothraustes coccothraustesLC
Recorded all year
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthisLC
Recorded all year
Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisusLC
Recorded all year
Rook
Corvus frugilegusLC
Recorded all year
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorusLC
Recorded all year
Bar-tailed Godwit
Limosa lapponicaNT
Recorded all year
Eider
Somateria mollissimaNT
Recorded all year
Northern Goshawk
Astur gentilisLC
Recorded all year
Black-necked Grebe
Podiceps nigricollisLC
Recorded all year
Common Raven
Corvus coraxLC
Recorded all year
White-tailed Sea-eagle
Haliaeetus albicillaLC
Recorded all year
Red-crested Pochard
Netta rufinaLC
Recorded all year
Bearded Tit
Panurus biarmicusLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Passer montanusLC
Recorded all year
Little Egret
Egretta garzettaLC
Recorded all year
Crested Tit
Lophophanes cristatusLC
Recorded all year
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinusLC
Recorded all year
Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhulaLC
Recorded all year
Coal Tit
Periparus aterLC
Recorded all year
Marsh Tit
Poecile palustrisLC
Recorded all year
Grey Partridge
Perdix perdixLC
Recorded all year
Little Gull
Hydrocoloeus minutusLC
Recorded all year
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Dryobates minorLC
Recorded all year
Willow Tit
Poecile montanusLC
Recorded all year
Black Swan
Cygnus atratusLC
Recorded all year
Tawny Owl
Strix alucoLC
Recorded all year
Long-eared Owl
Asio otusLC
Recorded all year
Common Crane
Grus grusLC
Recorded all year
Yellow-legged Gull
Larus michahellisLC
Recorded all year
Little Owl
Athene noctuaLC
Recorded all year
Bar-headed Goose
Anser indicusLC
Recorded all year
Barn Owl
Tyto albaLC
Recorded all year
Mandarin Duck
Aix galericulataLC
Recorded all year
Cattle Egret
Ardea ibisLC
Recorded all year
Red-necked Grebe
Podiceps grisegenaLC
Recorded all year
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensisLC
Recorded all year
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostraLC
Recorded all year
Black-crowned Night-heron
Nycticorax nycticoraxLC
Recorded all year
Muscovy Duck
Cairina moschataLC
Recorded all year
Greater Flamingo
Phoenicopterus roseusLC
Recorded all year
Summer visitors
(73)Arrives to breed; scarce or absent in winter
Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybitaLC
Regularly Feb–Dec
Blackcap
Sylvia atricapillaLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rusticaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Common Swift
Apus apusLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Pied Wagtail
Motacilla albaLC
Recorded all year
Cuckoo
Cuculus canorusLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Whitethroat
Curruca communisLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilusLC
Regularly Mar–Sep
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscusLC
Recorded all year
Common Tern
Sterna hirundoLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Common Reed-warbler
Acrocephalus scirpaceusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Sedge Warbler
Acrocephalus schoenobaenusLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Linnet
Linaria cannabinaLC
Recorded all year
Garden Warbler
Sylvia borinLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Western Marsh-harrier
Circus aeruginosusLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Spoonbill
Platalea leucorodiaLC
Recorded all year
Stonechat
Saxicola rubicolaLC
Recorded all year
Black-tailed Godwit
Limosa limosaNT
Regularly Feb–Dec
Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flavaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
House Martin
Delichon urbicumLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Avocet
Recurvirostra avosettaLC
Recorded all year
Sand Martin
Riparia ripariaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchosLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Bluethroat
Luscinia svecicaLC
Regularly Mar–Aug
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialisLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Common Redstart
Phoenicurus phoenicurusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Little Ringed Plover
Thinornis dubiusLC
Regularly Mar–Sep
Marsh Warbler
Acrocephalus palustrisLC
Regularly May–Aug
Lesser Whitethroat
Curruca currucaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticulaLC
Recorded all year
Greenshank
Tringa nebulariaLC
Regularly Apr–Dec
European Pied Flycatcher
Ficedula hypoleucaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Savi's Warbler
Locustella luscinioidesLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Garganey
Spatula querquedulaLC
Regularly Mar–Sep
Black Tern
Chlidonias nigerLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Grasshopper Warbler
Locustella naeviaLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striataLC
Regularly May–Oct
Eurasian Bittern
Botaurus stellarisLC
Recorded all year
Golden Oriole
Oriolus oriolusLC
Regularly May–Aug
Sandwich Tern
Thalasseus sandvicensisLC
Regularly Mar–Jan
Hobby
Falco subbuteoLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Mediterranean Gull
Ichthyaetus melanocephalusLC
Regularly Feb–Oct
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Black Redstart
Phoenicurus ochrurosLC
Recorded all year
Ruff
Calidris pugnaxLC
Recorded all year
Wood Sandpiper
Tringa glareolaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Purple Heron
Ardea purpureaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Wood Warbler
Phylloscopus sibilatrixLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Little Tern
Sternula albifronsLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Whinchat
Saxicola rubetraLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Spotted Redshank
Tringa erythropusLC
Recorded all year
Red-backed Shrike
Lanius collurioLC
Regularly May–Sep
European Honey-buzzard
Pernis apivorusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Arctic Tern
Sterna paradisaeaLC
Regularly Apr–Dec
Osprey
Pandion haliaetusLC
Regularly Apr–Nov
Red Kite
Milvus milvusLC
Recorded all year
Green Sandpiper
Tringa ochropusLC
Recorded all year
European Turtle-dove
Streptopelia turturVU
Regularly Apr–Oct
Nightjar
Caprimulgus europaeusLC
Regularly May–Aug
Ruddy Shelduck
Tadorna ferrugineaLC
Recorded all year
Common Quail
Coturnix coturnixLC
Regularly May–Sep
Wryneck
Jynx torquillaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Curlew Sandpiper
Calidris ferrugineaNT
Regularly May–Oct
Montagu's Harrier
Circus pygargusLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Spotted Crake
Porzana porzanaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
White-winged Tern
Chlidonias leucopterusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Kentish Plover
Charadrius alexandrinusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
European Bee-eater
Merops apiasterLC
Regularly May–Aug
Little Bittern
Ixobrychus minutusLC
Regularly May–Aug
Hoopoe
Upupa epopsLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Corncrake
Crex crexLC
Regularly May–Jul
Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellusLC
Regularly Apr–Feb
Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotosLC
Regularly May–Oct
Winter visitors
(39)Present outside the breeding season
Brent Goose
Branta berniclaLC
Regularly Sep–Jun
Eurasian Teal
Anas creccaLC
Recorded all year
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpresLC
Recorded all year
Dunlin
Calidris alpinaLC
Recorded all year
Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarolaLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Wigeon
Mareca penelopeLC
Regularly Aug–Jun
Goldcrest
Regulus regulusLC
Recorded all year
Water Rail
Rallus aquaticusLC
Recorded all year
Sanderling
Calidris albaLC
Regularly Jul–May
Northern Pintail
Anas acutaLC
Regularly Aug–May
Red Knot
Calidris canutusNT
Recorded all year
Common Snipe
Gallinago gallinagoLC
Regularly Jul–May
Firecrest
Regulus ignicapillaLC
Recorded all year
Hen Harrier
Circus cyaneusLC
Regularly Aug–May
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinereaLC
Recorded all year
Golden Plover
Pluvialis apricariaLC
Regularly Jul–May
Eurasian Woodcock
Scolopax rusticolaLC
Regularly Oct–Jul
Common Scoter
Melanitta nigraLC
Regularly Jul–May
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serratorLC
Regularly Sep–May
Merlin
Falco columbariusLC
Regularly Sep–May
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammeaLC
Regularly Jul–May
Whooper Swan
Cygnus cygnusLC
Regularly May–Mar
Northern Gannet
Morus bassanusLC
Recorded all year
Purple Sandpiper
Calidris maritimaLC
Regularly Aug–May
Greater Scaup
Aythya marilaLC
Regularly Jul–May
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeusLC
Recorded all year
Red-breasted Goose
Branta ruficollisVU
Regularly Aug–May
Pink-footed Goose
Anser brachyrhynchusLC
Regularly Sep–May
Hooded Merganser
Lophodytes cucullatusLC
Regularly Oct–May
Serin
Serinus serinusLC
Regularly Aug–May
European Shag
Gulosus aristotelisLC
Recorded all year
Swan Goose
Anser cygnoidesEN
Regularly Jul–May
Treecreeper
Certhia familiarisLC
Regularly Jul–May
Hooded Crow
Corvus cornixLC
Regularly Oct–Jun
Wood Duck
Aix sponsaLC
Regularly Sep–Jun
Cackling Goose
Branta hutchinsiiLC
Regularly Dec–Aug
Corn Bunting
Emberiza calandraLC
Regularly Nov–May
Velvet Scoter
Melanitta fuscaVU
Regularly Aug–May
Snow Goose
Anser caerulescensLC
Regularly Jul–May
Passage migrants
(14)Seen mainly in spring and autumn migration
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucosLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Wheatear
Oenanthe oenantheLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Temminck's Stint
Calidris temminckiiLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Little Stint
Calidris minutaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Dotterel
Eudromias morinellusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Ring Ouzel
Turdus torquatusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Common Rosefinch
Carpodacus erythrinusLC
Regularly May–Jun
Red-necked Phalarope
Phalaropus lobatusLC
Regularly May–Oct
Woodchat Shrike
Lanius senatorNT
Regularly May–Jun
Eurasian Stone-curlew
Burhinus oedicnemusLC
Regularly May
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Calidris subruficollisVU
Regularly May–Sep
Grey Phalarope
Phalaropus fulicariusLC
Regularly May–Jan
Fulmar
Fulmarus glacialisLC
Regularly Apr–Nov
Iceland Gull
Larus glaucoidesLC
Regularly Jan–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