Birds to See in Singapore in May
25 bird species on our list for Singapore are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Red Junglefowl, Rock Dove, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Grey Heron and Rose-ringed Parakeet.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayAt their peak
From Singapore’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 25 birds in May
25 birds
Red JunglefowlGallus gallusResidentCommon42–75 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in May
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentCommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorCommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.93% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in May
Purple HeronArdea purpureaResidentCommon78–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
White-crested LaughingthrushGarrulax leucolophusResidentUncommon27–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Chestnut MuniaLonchura atricapillaResidentUncommon10–11 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Rufous-tailed TailorbirdOrthotomus sericeusResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Oriental Honey-buzzardPernis ptilorhynchusWinter visitorCommon52–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.14% in May
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusPassage migrantUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.13% in May
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.08% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in May
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentUncommon86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Black SwanCygnus atratusWinter visitorUncommon110–142 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusWinter visitorUncommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusWinter visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
Smallest to largest
Length, cm- Chestnut Munia 10–11 cm
- Scaly-breasted Munia 11–12 cm
- Rufous-tailed Tailorbird 10–14 cm
- Eurasian Tree Sparrow 14–15 cm
- Little Tern 21–25 cm
- White-winged Tern 20–27 cm
- Grey Plover 27–30 cm
- White-crested Laughingthrush 27–31 cm
- Monk Parakeet 29–31 cm
- Rock Dove 31–34 cm
- Greenshank 30–35 cm
- Moorhen 30–38 cm
- Rose-ringed Parakeet 38–42 cm
- Whimbrel 40–46 cm
- Osprey 54–58 cm
- Red Junglefowl 42–75 cm
- Little Egret 55–65 cm
- Oriental Honey-buzzard 52–68 cm
- Black-crowned Night-heron 58–65 cm
- Purple Heron 78–90 cm
- Great White Egret 80–104 cm
- Grey Heron 90–98 cm
- Black Swan 110–142 cm
- Mute Swan 140–160 cm
- Indian Peafowl 86–230 cm
Body length, bill to tail. Rare birds in grey.
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