Birds to See in Russia in May
252 species listed for May · birdwatchers' records, 2019–2024
252 bird species on our list for Russia are recorded regularly in May. Of these, the most often recorded are Hooded Crow, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Great Tit and Mallard. New this month: Common Swift, Common Rosefinch, Whitethroat and Spotted Flycatcher and 46 more.
New in May50
- Common Swift
- Common Rosefinch
- Whitethroat
- Spotted Flycatcher
- Garden Warbler
- Sedge Warbler
- Marsh Warbler
- Red-backed Shrike
- Corncrake
- Dunlin
- Fulmar
- Golden Oriole
- European Honey-buzzard
- Eider
- Little Stint
- Arctic Tern
- Grey Plover
- Red-necked Phalarope
- Temminck's Stint
- Red-throated Loon
- Arctic Loon
- Common Scoter
- Arctic Jaeger
- Little Bittern
- Yellow-browed Warbler
- Curlew Sandpiper
- Black-tailed Gull
- Little Tern
- Oriental Honey-buzzard
- Long-tailed Jaeger
- Ruddy Turnstone
- Crag Martin
- Alpine Chough
- Pacific Golden-Plover
- European Turtle-dove
- Red Knot
- Nightjar
- Bar-tailed Godwit
- Leach's Storm-petrel
- Blue Rock-thrush
- Brent Goose
- Pomarine Jaeger
- Woodchat Shrike
- Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
- Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush
- Twite
- Boreal Owl
- Parrot Crossbill
- Bar-headed Goose
- Oriental Scops-owl
Residents
(43)Recorded all year
Hooded Crow
Corvus cornixLC
Recorded all year
Great Tit
Parus majorLC
Recorded all year
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
Recorded all year
Fieldfare
Turdus pilarisLC
Recorded all year
Rock Dove
Columba liviaLC
Recorded all year
Blackbird
Turdus merulaLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Passer montanusLC
Recorded all year
Magpie
Pica picaLC
Recorded all year
House Sparrow
Passer domesticusLC
Recorded all year
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos majorLC
Recorded all year
Greenfinch
Chloris chlorisLC
Recorded all year
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelisLC
Recorded all year
Common Gull
Larus canusLC
Recorded all year
Common Raven
Corvus coraxLC
Recorded all year
Jackdaw
Coloeus monedulaLC
Recorded all year
Coot
Fulica atraLC
Recorded all year
Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligulaLC
Recorded all year
European Herring Gull
Larus argentatusLC
Recorded all year
Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinellaLC
Recorded all year
Rook
Corvus frugilegusLC
Recorded all year
Pochard
Aythya ferinaVU
Recorded all year
Ruddy Shelduck
Tadorna ferrugineaLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Siskin
Spinus spinusLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Wren
Troglodytes troglodytesLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Teal
Anas creccaLC
Recorded all year
Hawfinch
Coccothraustes coccothraustesLC
Recorded all year
Mute Swan
Cygnus olorLC
Recorded all year
Goldeneye
Bucephala clangulaLC
Recorded all year
Black-necked Grebe
Podiceps nigricollisLC
Recorded all year
White-tailed Sea-eagle
Haliaeetus albicillaLC
Recorded all year
Carrion Crow
Corvus coroneLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Collared Dove
Streptopelia decaoctoLC
Recorded all year
Red-crested Pochard
Netta rufinaLC
Recorded all year
Common Pheasant
Phasianus colchicusLC
Recorded all year
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Dryobates minorLC
Recorded all year
Marsh Tit
Poecile palustrisLC
Recorded all year
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthisLC
Regularly Apr–Feb
Long-eared Owl
Asio otusLC
Recorded all year
European Green Woodpecker
Picus viridisLC
Recorded all year
Horned Lark
Eremophila alpestrisLC
Recorded all year
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinusLC
Recorded all year
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinusLC
Recorded all year
Long-tailed Duck
Clangula hyemalisVU
Recorded all year
Summer visitors
(159)Arrives to breed; scarce or absent in winter
Pied Wagtail
Motacilla albaLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebsLC
Recorded all year
Black-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus ridibundusLC
Recorded all year
Common Starling
Sturnus vulgarisLC
Regularly Feb–Nov
Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybitaLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rusticaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
European Robin
Erithacus rubeculaLC
Recorded all year
Common Swift
Apus apusLC
Regularly May–Aug
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelosLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Cuckoo
Cuculus canorusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
European Pied Flycatcher
Ficedula hypoleucaLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Common Tern
Sterna hirundoLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Blackcap
Sylvia atricapillaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellusNT
Regularly Mar–Oct
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatusLC
Recorded all year
Grey Heron
Ardea cinereaLC
Recorded all year
Wood Warbler
Phylloscopus sibilatrixLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Woodpigeon
Columba palumbusLC
Regularly Feb–Oct
Whitethroat
Curruca communisLC
Regularly May–Sep
Redwing
Turdus iliacusNT
Regularly Mar–Nov
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialisLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclusLC
Regularly Feb–Nov
Bluethroat
Luscinia svecicaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Common Rosefinch
Carpodacus erythrinusLC
Regularly May–Aug
Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flavaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Whinchat
Saxicola rubetraLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucosLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Western Marsh-harrier
Circus aeruginosusLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeataLC
Regularly Feb–Dec
Eurasian Skylark
Alauda arvensisLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Gadwall
Mareca streperaLC
Recorded all year
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculusLC
Recorded all year
Buzzard
Buteo buteoLC
Recorded all year
Lesser Whitethroat
Curruca currucaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Garganey
Spatula querquedulaLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Sedge Warbler
Acrocephalus schoenobaenusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Common Redstart
Phoenicurus phoenicurusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Garden Warbler
Sylvia borinLC
Regularly May–Sep
Wood Sandpiper
Tringa glareolaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striataLC
Regularly May–Sep
Redshank
Tringa totanusLC
Regularly Mar–Sep
Ruff
Calidris pugnaxLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Wheatear
Oenanthe oenantheLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Corncrake
Crex crexLC
Regularly May–Jul
Little Ringed Plover
Thinornis dubiusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Eurasian Wigeon
Mareca penelopeLC
Recorded all year
Sand Martin
Riparia ripariaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carboLC
Recorded all year
Wryneck
Jynx torquillaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Common Snipe
Gallinago gallinagoLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Linnet
Linaria cannabinaLC
Recorded all year
Red-backed Shrike
Lanius collurioLC
Regularly May–Sep
Hobby
Falco subbuteoLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Green Sandpiper
Tringa ochropusLC
Regularly Mar–Sep
Hoopoe
Upupa epopsLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
House Martin
Delichon urbicumLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Eurasian Bittern
Botaurus stellarisLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Black Tern
Chlidonias nigerLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Black-tailed Godwit
Limosa limosaNT
Regularly Mar–Oct
Golden Oriole
Oriolus oriolusLC
Regularly May–Aug
Marsh Warbler
Acrocephalus palustrisLC
Regularly May–Aug
Greenshank
Tringa nebulariaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropusLC
Recorded all year
White-winged Tern
Chlidonias leucopterusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Great White Egret
Ardea albaLC
Regularly Mar–Dec
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscusLC
Recorded all year
Common Shelduck
Tadorna tadornaLC
Recorded all year
Little Gull
Hydrocoloeus minutusLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Greater White-fronted Goose
Anser albifronsLC
Recorded all year
Black Redstart
Phoenicurus ochrurosLC
Regularly Feb–Dec
Montagu's Harrier
Circus pygargusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
European Bee-eater
Merops apiasterLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Common Crane
Grus grusLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticulaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
European Honey-buzzard
Pernis apivorusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Whooper Swan
Cygnus cygnusLC
Recorded all year
Osprey
Pandion haliaetusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Dunlin
Calidris alpinaLC
Regularly May–Oct
Curlew
Numenius arquataNT
Regularly Feb–Sep
Dunnock
Prunella modularisLC
Regularly Feb–Dec
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serratorLC
Regularly Mar–Dec
Brambling
Fringilla montifringillaLC
Regularly Jan–Nov
Grasshopper Warbler
Locustella naeviaLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Purple Heron
Ardea purpureaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegusNT
Regularly Apr–Oct
Hen Harrier
Circus cyaneusLC
Recorded all year
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorusLC
Regularly Feb–Dec
Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Northern Pintail
Anas acutaLC
Regularly Jan–Nov
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensisLC
Recorded all year
Little Tern
Sternula albifronsLC
Regularly May–Sep
Little Egret
Egretta garzettaLC
Regularly Apr–Feb
Horned Grebe
Podiceps auritusVU
Regularly Apr–Dec
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinereaLC
Regularly Apr–Nov
Savi's Warbler
Locustella luscinioidesLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Black-tailed Gull
Larus crassirostrisLC
Regularly May–Oct
Fulmar
Fulmarus glacialisLC
Regularly May–Oct
Avocet
Recurvirostra avosettaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Temminck's Stint
Calidris temminckiiLC
Regularly May–Sep
Vega Gull
Larus vegaeLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeusLC
Regularly Feb–Oct
Eurasian Woodcock
Scolopax rusticolaLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Black-crowned Night-heron
Nycticorax nycticoraxLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Golden Plover
Pluvialis apricariaLC
Regularly Apr–Nov
Greylag Goose
Anser anserLC
Regularly Jan–Oct
Griffon Vulture
Gyps fulvusLC
Regularly Apr–Jan
Stonechat
Saxicola rubicolaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Cetti's Warbler
Cettia cettiLC
Regularly Mar–Jul
Common Reed-warbler
Acrocephalus scirpaceusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Arctic Tern
Sterna paradisaeaLC
Regularly May–Aug
Eurasian Spoonbill
Platalea leucorodiaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Spotted Redshank
Tringa erythropusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Greater Scaup
Aythya marilaLC
Recorded all year
Stock Dove
Columba oenasLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Spotted Crake
Porzana porzanaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Booted Eagle
Hieraaetus pennatusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Red-necked Grebe
Podiceps grisegenaLC
Regularly Mar–Jan
Nightjar
Caprimulgus europaeusLC
Regularly May–Oct
Woodlark
Lullula arboreaLC
Regularly Mar–Sep
Yellow-browed Warbler
Phylloscopus inornatusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Bearded Tit
Panurus biarmicusLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Little Owl
Athene noctuaLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Eurasian Scops-owl
Otus scopsLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchosLC
Regularly Apr–Jul
Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarolaLC
Regularly May–Oct
Common Quail
Coturnix coturnixLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Cinereous Vulture
Aegypius monachusNT
Regularly Apr–Jan
Arctic Loon
Gavia arcticaLC
Regularly Mar–Dec
Little Bittern
Ixobrychus minutusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Bar-tailed Godwit
Limosa lapponicaNT
Regularly May–Oct
Red-necked Phalarope
Phalaropus lobatusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Tundra Swan
Cygnus columbianusLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Oriental Honey-buzzard
Pernis ptilorhynchusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Alpine Swift
Tachymarptis melbaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpresLC
Regularly May–Sep
Water Rail
Rallus aquaticusLC
Regularly Feb–Dec
Long-tailed Jaeger
Stercorarius longicaudusLC
Regularly May–Aug
Crag Martin
Ptyonoprogne rupestrisLC
Regularly May–Sep
European Turtle-dove
Streptopelia turturVU
Regularly May–Sep
Red-flanked Bluetail
Tarsiger cyanurusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Dusky Thrush
Turdus eunomusLC
Regularly Apr–Jul
Eider
Somateria mollissimaNT
Regularly Feb–Dec
Merlin
Falco columbariusLC
Recorded all year
Pomarine Jaeger
Stercorarius pomarinusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetosLC
Regularly Feb–Dec
Water Pipit
Anthus spinolettaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Lapland Longspur
Calcarius lapponicusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Common Scoter
Melanitta nigraLC
Regularly May–Nov
Western Capercaillie
Tetrao urogallusLC
Regularly Mar–Dec
Serin
Serinus serinusLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush
Monticola saxatilisLC
Regularly May–Jul
Red-throated Loon
Gavia stellataLC
Regularly May–Oct
Arctic Jaeger
Stercorarius parasiticusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Pacific Golden-Plover
Pluvialis fulvaLC
Regularly May–Sep
Alpine Chough
Pyrrhocorax graculusLC
Regularly Feb–Oct
Twite
Linaria flavirostrisLC
Regularly May–Jul
Parrot Crossbill
Loxia pytyopsittacusLC
Regularly May–Jul
Winter visitors
(22)Present outside the breeding season
Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleusLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Jay
Garrulus glandariusLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Nuthatch
Sitta europaeaLC
Recorded all year
Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhulaLC
Regularly Jul–May
Willow Tit
Poecile montanusLC
Recorded all year
Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisusLC
Recorded all year
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatusLC
Recorded all year
Treecreeper
Certhia familiarisLC
Recorded all year
Coal Tit
Periparus aterLC
Recorded all year
Goldcrest
Regulus regulusLC
Recorded all year
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostraLC
Recorded all year
Common Merganser
Mergus merganserLC
Recorded all year
Barnacle Goose
Branta leucopsisLC
Regularly Aug–Jun
Black Grouse
Lyrurus tetrixLC
Recorded all year
Grey Partridge
Perdix perdixLC
Recorded all year
Northern Goshawk
Astur gentilisLC
Recorded all year
Crested Tit
Lophophanes cristatusLC
Recorded all year
Mandarin Duck
Aix galericulataLC
Regularly Aug–Jun
Rough-legged Hawk
Buteo lagopusLC
Recorded all year
Tawny Owl
Strix alucoLC
Recorded all year
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollisLC
Recorded all year
Yellow-legged Gull
Larus michahellisLC
Recorded all year
Passage migrants
(26)Seen mainly in spring and autumn migration
Corn Bunting
Emberiza calandraLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Mediterranean Gull
Ichthyaetus melanocephalusLC
Regularly Oct–May
Taiga Bean Goose
Anser fabalisLC
Regularly Sep–May
Gull-billed Tern
Gelochelidon niloticaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Blue Rock-thrush
Monticola solitariusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Kentish Plover
Charadrius alexandrinusLC
Regularly Apr–May
Little Stint
Calidris minutaLC
Regularly May–Oct
Red-billed Chough
Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxLC
Regularly Sep–May
Squacco Heron
Ardeola ralloidesLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Tundra Bean Goose
Anser serrirostrisLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Curlew Sandpiper
Calidris ferrugineaNT
Regularly May–Oct
Woodchat Shrike
Lanius senatorNT
Regularly May
Egyptian Vulture
Neophron percnopterusEN
Regularly Apr–Sep
Chukar
Alectoris chukarLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Cattle Egret
Ardea ibisLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Moustached Warbler
Acrocephalus melanopogonLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Sandwich Tern
Thalasseus sandvicensisLC
Regularly Dec–Sep
Steller's Sea-eagle
Haliaeetus pelagicusVU
Regularly Apr–Aug
Brent Goose
Branta berniclaLC
Regularly May–Oct
Short-toed Lark
Calandrella brachydactylaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Red Knot
Calidris canutusNT
Regularly May–Sep
Jack Snipe
Lymnocryptes minimusLC
Regularly Apr–May
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Calidris acuminataVU
Regularly May
Bar-headed Goose
Anser indicusLC
Regularly May
Boreal Owl
Aegolius funereusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Ring Ouzel
Turdus torquatusLC
Regularly Mar–Aug
Scarce visitors
(2)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