Birds to See in Portugal in May
208 bird species on our list for Portugal are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Blackbird, House Sparrow, Serin, Eurasian Collared Dove and Barn Swallow. New this month: European Honey-buzzard, Red-backed Shrike, Sabine's Gull and Red-necked Phalarope and 6 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Portugal’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 208 birds in May
208 birds
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 4.25% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.83% in May
SerinSerinus serinusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.59% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 2.39% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.07% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 2.03% in May
Sardinian WarblerCurruca melanocephalaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in May
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 1.69% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 1.66% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in May
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisResidentCommon52–68 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in May
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentCommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.35% in May
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchosSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 1.34% in May
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in May
HoopoeUpupa epopsResidentCommon25–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in May
European Bee-eaterMerops apiasterSummer visitorCommon27–29 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.94% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in May
Short-toed TreecreeperCerthia brachydactylaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in May
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in May
Pallid SwiftApus pallidusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.73% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon31–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in May
Golden OrioleOriolus oriolusSummer visitorCommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.64% in May
WoodlarkLullula arboreaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
Booted EagleHieraaetus pennatusSummer visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.57% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorCommon32–34 cmRegularly Mar–Jul · 0.57% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in May
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in May
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestrisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
Griffon VultureGyps fulvusResidentUncommon93–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturSummer visitorUncommon26–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.41% in May
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaResidentCommon80–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon22–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
Thekla's LarkGalerida theklaeResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
Woodchat ShrikeLanius senatorSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.35% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.34% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentCommon48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Cirl BuntingEmberiza cirlusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.32% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.32% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentCommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.30% in May
Purple HeronArdea purpureaSummer visitorUncommon78–90 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.30% in May
Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseusResidentCommon120–145 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosWinter visitorCommon20–23 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.28% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon58–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaWinter visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Crested TitLophophanes cristatusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Dartford WarblerCurruca undataResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentUncommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.20% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentUncommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentUncommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargusSummer visitorUncommon43–47 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.17% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentUncommon27–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentUncommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactylaSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.15% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentUncommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Blue Rock-thrushMonticola solitariusResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisResidentUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Cinereous VultureAegypius monachusResidentUncommon98–120 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.12% in May
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentUncommon53–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Audouin's GullIchthyaetus audouiniiResidentUncommon48–52 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusResidentUncommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusSummer visitorUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Purple SwamphenPorphyrio porphyrioResidentUncommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaWinter visitorUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melbaSummer visitorUncommon20–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.09% in May
Eurasian Stone-curlewBurhinus oedicnemusResidentUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Crested MynaAcridotheres cristatellusResidentUncommon24–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorusSummer visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentUncommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesResidentUncommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Little BitternIxobrychus minutusSummer visitorUncommon33–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentUncommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorUncommon33–42 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.05% in May
Little StintCalidris minutaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in May
Egyptian VultureNeophron percnopterusSummer visitorUncommon55–65 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.05% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusWinter visitorUncommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusWinter visitorCommon60–66 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.05% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentUncommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
Balearic ShearwaterPuffinus mauretanicusResidentUncommon35–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Bonelli's EagleAquila fasciataWinter visitorUncommon65–72 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentUncommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaWinter visitorUncommon18–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Northern GoshawkAstur gentilisResidentUncommon46–61 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Savi's WarblerLocustella luscinioidesSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.04% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Eurasian Scops-owlOtus scopsSummer visitorRare19–21 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.04% in May
WryneckJynx torquillaWinter visitorUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentUncommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentRare66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.03% in May
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxWinter visitorUncommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorUncommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Squacco HeronArdeola ralloidesResidentRare40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Long-eared OwlAsio otusResidentRare35–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentRare17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare53–89 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataWinter visitorUncommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaResidentRare33–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Rufous-tailed Rock-thrushMonticola saxatilisSummer visitorRare16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentRare29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioSummer visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaWinter visitorUncommon50–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentRare11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentRare110–142 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentRare41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorUncommon41–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusWinter visitorUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesResidentRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in May
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaWinter visitorRare37–41 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in May
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaWinter visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in May
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaSummer visitorRare16–17 cmRegularly Feb–Jul · 0.00% in May
Red JunglefowlGallus gallusResidentRare42–75 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorRare50–71 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in May
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaWinter visitorRare58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorRare46–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in May
Sabine's GullXema sabiniSummer visitorRare27–33 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.00% in May
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorRare23–27 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in May
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaPassage migrantRare33–39 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in May
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsResidentRare31–38 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.00% in May
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.00% in May
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusPassage migrantRare20–27 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.00% in May
CockatielNymphicus hollandicusSummer visitorRare30–33 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.00% in May
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisPassage migrantRare76–110 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaWinter visitorRare47–54 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in May
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusResidentRare18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% 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