Birds to See in Norway in May
228 species listed for May · birdwatchers' records, 2019–2024
228 bird species on our list for Norway are recorded regularly in May. Of these, the most often recorded are Common Gull, Hooded Crow, Pied Wagtail, Willow Warbler and Eurasian Oystercatcher. New this month: Common Swift, Arctic Jaeger, Dunlin and Arctic Tern and 45 more.
New in May49
- Common Swift
- Arctic Jaeger
- Dunlin
- Arctic Tern
- Bohemian Waxwing
- Ruff
- Yellow Wagtail
- Cuckoo
- Spotted Flycatcher
- Whitethroat
- Wood Sandpiper
- Bluethroat
- Long-tailed Jaeger
- Garden Warbler
- Lesser Whitethroat
- Red Knot
- Temminck's Stint
- Red-necked Phalarope
- Grey Plover
- Spotted Redshank
- Little Stint
- Sedge Warbler
- Marsh Warbler
- Sanderling
- Curlew Sandpiper
- Red-backed Shrike
- Common Reed-warbler
- Common Rosefinch
- Hobby
- Dotterel
- European Honey-buzzard
- Pomarine Jaeger
- Nightjar
- Common Quail
- Little Egret
- Grasshopper Warbler
- Manx Shearwater
- Corncrake
- Spotted Crake
- Pectoral Sandpiper
- Montagu's Harrier
- Golden Oriole
- Short-toed Lark
- Lesser Yellowlegs
- Corn Bunting
- Serin
- European Bee-eater
- Subalpine Warbler
- White-winged Tern
Residents
(65)Recorded all year
Hooded Crow
Corvus cornixLC
Recorded all year
European Herring Gull
Larus argentatusLC
Recorded all year
Fieldfare
Turdus pilarisLC
Recorded all year
Blackbird
Turdus merulaLC
Recorded all year
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
Recorded all year
Great Tit
Parus majorLC
Recorded all year
Woodpigeon
Columba palumbusLC
Recorded all year
Magpie
Pica picaLC
Recorded all year
Greenfinch
Chloris chlorisLC
Recorded all year
Greylag Goose
Anser anserLC
Recorded all year
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinusLC
Recorded all year
House Sparrow
Passer domesticusLC
Recorded all year
Common Starling
Sturnus vulgarisLC
Recorded all year
Eider
Somateria mollissimaNT
Recorded all year
European Robin
Erithacus rubeculaLC
Recorded all year
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serratorLC
Recorded all year
Goldeneye
Bucephala clangulaLC
Recorded all year
Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinellaLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Siskin
Spinus spinusLC
Recorded all year
Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carboLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Passer montanusLC
Recorded all year
White-tailed Sea-eagle
Haliaeetus albicillaLC
Recorded all year
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammeaLC
Recorded all year
Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligulaLC
Recorded all year
Grey Heron
Ardea cinereaLC
Recorded all year
Common Merganser
Mergus merganserLC
Recorded all year
Mute Swan
Cygnus olorLC
Recorded all year
Kittiwake
Rissa tridactylaVU
Recorded all year
Common Raven
Corvus coraxLC
Recorded all year
Red-throated Loon
Gavia stellataLC
Recorded all year
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelisLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Wigeon
Mareca penelopeLC
Recorded all year
Rock Dove
Columba liviaLC
Recorded all year
Black Guillemot
Cepphus grylleLC
Recorded all year
European Shag
Gulosus aristotelisLC
Recorded all year
Long-tailed Duck
Clangula hyemalisVU
Regularly Oct–Aug
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos majorLC
Recorded all year
Brambling
Fringilla montifringillaLC
Recorded all year
Whooper Swan
Cygnus cygnusLC
Recorded all year
Barnacle Goose
Branta leucopsisLC
Recorded all year
Common Scoter
Melanitta nigraLC
Recorded all year
Purple Sandpiper
Calidris maritimaLC
Recorded all year
Canada Goose
Branta canadensisLC
Recorded all year
Rock Pipit
Anthus petrosusLC
Recorded all year
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatusLC
Recorded all year
Razorbill
Alca tordaLC
Recorded all year
Coot
Fulica atraLC
Recorded all year
Northern Pintail
Anas acutaLC
Recorded all year
Horned Grebe
Podiceps auritusVU
Recorded all year
European Green Woodpecker
Picus viridisLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Collared Dove
Streptopelia decaoctoLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Woodcock
Scolopax rusticolaLC
Recorded all year
Black Grouse
Lyrurus tetrixLC
Recorded all year
Snow Bunting
Plectrophenax nivalisLC
Recorded all year
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropusLC
Recorded all year
Greater Scaup
Aythya marilaLC
Recorded all year
Glaucous Gull
Larus hyperboreusLC
Recorded all year
King Eider
Somateria spectabilisLC
Regularly Oct–Aug
Taiga Bean Goose
Anser fabalisLC
Recorded all year
Common Pheasant
Phasianus colchicusLC
Recorded all year
Rook
Corvus frugilegusLC
Recorded all year
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Dryobates minorLC
Recorded all year
Tawny Owl
Strix alucoLC
Recorded all year
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetosLC
Recorded all year
Smew
Mergellus albellusLC
Recorded all year
Summer visitors
(109)Arrives to breed; scarce or absent in winter
Common Gull
Larus canusLC
Recorded all year
Pied Wagtail
Motacilla albaLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegusNT
Regularly Feb–Nov
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebsLC
Recorded all year
Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybitaLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rusticaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Redwing
Turdus iliacusNT
Recorded all year
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensisLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Black-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus ridibundusLC
Recorded all year
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscusLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Redshank
Tringa totanusLC
Regularly Jan–Nov
Blackcap
Sylvia atricapillaLC
Regularly Apr–Jan
Wheatear
Oenanthe oenantheLC
Regularly Apr–Nov
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucosLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Eurasian Teal
Anas creccaLC
Recorded all year
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelosLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclusLC
Regularly Mar–Jan
Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticulaLC
Regularly Feb–Oct
Golden Plover
Pluvialis apricariaLC
Regularly Apr–Nov
Eurasian Skylark
Alauda arvensisLC
Regularly Feb–Dec
European Pied Flycatcher
Ficedula hypoleucaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Curlew
Numenius arquataNT
Recorded all year
Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellusNT
Regularly Feb–Nov
Common Snipe
Gallinago gallinagoLC
Regularly Mar–Jan
Dunlin
Calidris alpinaLC
Regularly Mar–Dec
Common Shelduck
Tadorna tadornaLC
Regularly Feb–Dec
Whitethroat
Curruca communisLC
Regularly May–Sep
Linnet
Linaria cannabinaLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Greenshank
Tringa nebulariaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Wood Sandpiper
Tringa glareolaLC
Regularly May–Aug
Arctic Jaeger
Stercorarius parasiticusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopusLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Dunnock
Prunella modularisLC
Regularly Mar–Jan
Common Tern
Sterna hirundoLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Common Swift
Apus apusLC
Regularly May–Aug
Common Crane
Grus grusLC
Regularly Mar–Sep
House Martin
Delichon urbicumLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Lesser Whitethroat
Curruca currucaLC
Regularly May–Oct
Garden Warbler
Sylvia borinLC
Regularly May–Oct
Whinchat
Saxicola rubetraLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Arctic Loon
Gavia arcticaLC
Recorded all year
Sand Martin
Riparia ripariaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Ruff
Calidris pugnaxLC
Regularly May–Oct
Arctic Tern
Sterna paradisaeaLC
Regularly May–Sep
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialisLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flavaLC
Regularly May–Oct
Cuckoo
Cuculus canorusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striataLC
Regularly May–Oct
Bar-tailed Godwit
Limosa lapponicaNT
Regularly Jan–Nov
Rough-legged Hawk
Buteo lagopusLC
Recorded all year
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculusLC
Recorded all year
Northern Gannet
Morus bassanusLC
Recorded all year
Sedge Warbler
Acrocephalus schoenobaenusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpresLC
Recorded all year
Bluethroat
Luscinia svecicaLC
Regularly May–Sep
Common Redstart
Phoenicurus phoenicurusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Temminck's Stint
Calidris temminckiiLC
Regularly May–Aug
Long-tailed Jaeger
Stercorarius longicaudusLC
Regularly May–Aug
Green Sandpiper
Tringa ochropusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Ring Ouzel
Turdus torquatusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeusLC
Regularly Feb–Nov
Twite
Linaria flavirostrisLC
Recorded all year
Western Marsh-harrier
Circus aeruginosusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Wryneck
Jynx torquillaLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Atlantic Puffin
Fratercula arcticaVU
Regularly Oct–Aug
Red-necked Phalarope
Phalaropus lobatusLC
Regularly May–Aug
Tundra Bean Goose
Anser serrirostrisLC
Regularly Oct–Jul
Osprey
Pandion haliaetusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Wood Warbler
Phylloscopus sibilatrixLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Red Knot
Calidris canutusNT
Regularly May–Feb
Fulmar
Fulmarus glacialisLC
Regularly Jan–Nov
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinereaLC
Regularly Mar–Jan
Gadwall
Mareca streperaLC
Regularly Mar–Jan
Little Ringed Plover
Thinornis dubiusLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Common Reed-warbler
Acrocephalus scirpaceusLC
Regularly May–Oct
Black-tailed Godwit
Limosa limosaNT
Regularly Mar–Oct
Lapland Longspur
Calcarius lapponicusLC
Regularly Apr–Nov
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorusLC
Regularly Mar–Dec
Rock Ptarmigan
Lagopus mutaLC
Regularly Mar–Jan
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeataLC
Regularly Apr–Nov
Horned Lark
Eremophila alpestrisLC
Regularly Apr–Jan
Merlin
Falco columbariusLC
Recorded all year
Stock Dove
Columba oenasLC
Regularly Feb–Oct
Great Skua
Stercorarius skuaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Sanderling
Calidris albaLC
Regularly May–Nov
Pomarine Jaeger
Stercorarius pomarinusLC
Regularly May–Aug
Red-backed Shrike
Lanius collurioLC
Regularly May–Sep
Marsh Warbler
Acrocephalus palustrisLC
Regularly May–Aug
Common Rosefinch
Carpodacus erythrinusLC
Regularly May–Oct
Little Gull
Hydrocoloeus minutusLC
Regularly Apr–Nov
Little Stint
Calidris minutaLC
Regularly May–Oct
Dotterel
Eudromias morinellusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Brent Goose
Branta berniclaLC
Regularly Apr–Dec
Spotted Redshank
Tringa erythropusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Hobby
Falco subbuteoLC
Regularly May–Sep
Western Capercaillie
Tetrao urogallusLC
Regularly Apr–Feb
Common Quail
Coturnix coturnixLC
Regularly May–Aug
Great White Egret
Ardea albaLC
Regularly Mar–Jan
Black Redstart
Phoenicurus ochrurosLC
Regularly Mar–Dec
Nightjar
Caprimulgus europaeusLC
Regularly May–Aug
European Honey-buzzard
Pernis apivorusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Curlew Sandpiper
Calidris ferrugineaNT
Regularly May–Sep
Long-eared Owl
Asio otusLC
Regularly Jan–Nov
Spotted Crake
Porzana porzanaLC
Regularly May–Sep
Sandwich Tern
Thalasseus sandvicensisLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Woodlark
Lullula arboreaLC
Regularly Mar–Dec
Manx Shearwater
Puffinus puffinusLC
Regularly May–Oct
Bar-headed Goose
Anser indicusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Winter visitors
(34)Present outside the breeding season
Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleusLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Wren
Troglodytes troglodytesLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Nuthatch
Sitta europaeaLC
Recorded all year
Jackdaw
Coloeus monedulaLC
Recorded all year
Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhulaLC
Recorded all year
Goldcrest
Regulus regulusLC
Recorded all year
Velvet Scoter
Melanitta fuscaVU
Recorded all year
Pink-footed Goose
Anser brachyrhynchusLC
Regularly Sep–Jun
Coal Tit
Periparus aterLC
Recorded all year
Hawfinch
Coccothraustes coccothraustesLC
Recorded all year
Willow Tit
Poecile montanusLC
Recorded all year
Buzzard
Buteo buteoLC
Recorded all year
Common Loon
Gavia immerLC
Recorded all year
Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisusLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Jay
Garrulus glandariusLC
Recorded all year
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinusLC
Recorded all year
Dipper
Cinclus cinclusLC
Recorded all year
Treecreeper
Certhia familiarisLC
Recorded all year
Bohemian Waxwing
Bombycilla garrulusLC
Regularly May–Mar
Northern Goshawk
Astur gentilisLC
Recorded all year
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatusLC
Recorded all year
Hen Harrier
Circus cyaneusLC
Recorded all year
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostraLC
Recorded all year
Marsh Tit
Poecile palustrisLC
Recorded all year
Carrion Crow
Corvus coroneLC
Recorded all year
Greater White-fronted Goose
Anser albifronsLC
Regularly Sep–Jun
Water Rail
Rallus aquaticusLC
Regularly Aug–May
Crested Tit
Lophophanes cristatusLC
Recorded all year
Iceland Gull
Larus glaucoidesLC
Regularly Oct–Jul
Parrot Crossbill
Loxia pytyopsittacusLC
Recorded all year
Stonechat
Saxicola rubicolaLC
Recorded all year
Bearded Tit
Panurus biarmicusLC
Regularly Aug–Jun
Pochard
Aythya ferinaVU
Recorded all year
Red-necked Grebe
Podiceps grisegenaLC
Recorded all year
Passage migrants
(19)Seen mainly in spring and autumn migration
Garganey
Spatula querquedulaLC
Regularly Apr–Jun
Grasshopper Warbler
Locustella naeviaLC
Regularly May–Sep
Mandarin Duck
Aix galericulataLC
Regularly Aug–Jun
Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarolaLC
Regularly May–Nov
Little Egret
Egretta garzettaLC
Regularly May–Oct
Avocet
Recurvirostra avosettaLC
Regularly Apr–May
Corncrake
Crex crexLC
Regularly May–Jun
Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotosLC
Regularly May–Sep
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthisLC
Regularly Mar–Jan
Montagu's Harrier
Circus pygargusLC
Regularly May
Golden Oriole
Oriolus oriolusLC
Regularly May
Lesser Yellowlegs
Tringa flavipesVU
Regularly May–Jun
Corn Bunting
Emberiza calandraLC
Regularly May
Mediterranean Gull
Ichthyaetus melanocephalusLC
Regularly Apr–Jun
Short-toed Lark
Calandrella brachydactylaLC
Regularly May–Oct
European Bee-eater
Merops apiasterLC
Regularly May–Jun
Red Kite
Milvus milvusLC
Regularly Mar–Sep
Subalpine Warbler
Curruca cantillansLC
Regularly May
White-winged Tern
Chlidonias leucopterusLC
Regularly May
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