Birds to See in Switzerland in May
206 species listed for May · birdwatchers' records, 2019–2024
206 bird species on our list for Switzerland are recorded regularly in May. Of these, the most often recorded are Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Blackcap, Great Tit and House Sparrow. New this month: Spotted Flycatcher, Marsh Warbler, Little Bittern and European Honey-buzzard and 14 more.
New in May18
Leaving after last month26
- Common Gull
- Meadow Pipit
- Brambling
- Dunlin
- Green Sandpiper
- Redwing
- Hen Harrier
- Eurasian Bittern
- Arctic Loon
- European Herring Gull
- Velvet Scoter
- Red-necked Grebe
- Bluethroat
- Greater Scaup
- Golden Plover
- Red-breasted Goose
- Merlin
- Jack Snipe
- Smew
- Long-tailed Duck
- Dotterel
- Aquatic Warbler
- Bar-headed Goose
- Short-eared Owl
- Subalpine Warbler
- Moustached Warbler
Residents
(85)Recorded all year
Blackbird
Turdus merulaLC
Recorded all year
Carrion Crow
Corvus coroneLC
Recorded all year
Great Tit
Parus majorLC
Recorded all year
House Sparrow
Passer domesticusLC
Recorded all year
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebsLC
Recorded all year
Woodpigeon
Columba palumbusLC
Recorded all year
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
Recorded all year
Common Starling
Sturnus vulgarisLC
Recorded all year
Pied Wagtail
Motacilla albaLC
Recorded all year
Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleusLC
Recorded all year
Coot
Fulica atraLC
Recorded all year
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelisLC
Recorded all year
Red Kite
Milvus milvusLC
Recorded all year
Grey Heron
Ardea cinereaLC
Recorded all year
Magpie
Pica picaLC
Recorded all year
Buzzard
Buteo buteoLC
Recorded all year
Yellow-legged Gull
Larus michahellisLC
Recorded all year
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculusLC
Recorded all year
European Robin
Erithacus rubeculaLC
Recorded all year
Greenfinch
Chloris chlorisLC
Recorded all year
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatusLC
Recorded all year
Mute Swan
Cygnus olorLC
Recorded all year
Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carboLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Wren
Troglodytes troglodytesLC
Recorded all year
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos majorLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Collared Dove
Streptopelia decaoctoLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Passer montanusLC
Recorded all year
Red-crested Pochard
Netta rufinaLC
Recorded all year
Short-toed Treecreeper
Certhia brachydactylaLC
Recorded all year
Rock Dove
Columba liviaLC
Recorded all year
Common Merganser
Mergus merganserLC
Recorded all year
European Green Woodpecker
Picus viridisLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Jay
Garrulus glandariusLC
Recorded all year
Black-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus ridibundusLC
Recorded all year
Coal Tit
Periparus aterLC
Recorded all year
Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinellaLC
Recorded all year
Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclusLC
Recorded all year
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropusLC
Recorded all year
Rook
Corvus frugilegusLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Nuthatch
Sitta europaeaLC
Recorded all year
Firecrest
Regulus ignicapillaLC
Recorded all year
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatusLC
Recorded all year
Fieldfare
Turdus pilarisLC
Recorded all year
Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligulaLC
Recorded all year
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorusLC
Recorded all year
Common Raven
Corvus coraxLC
Recorded all year
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollisLC
Recorded all year
Greylag Goose
Anser anserLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Skylark
Alauda arvensisLC
Recorded all year
Marsh Tit
Poecile palustrisLC
Recorded all year
Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellusNT
Recorded all year
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinereaLC
Recorded all year
Jackdaw
Coloeus monedulaLC
Recorded all year
Egyptian Goose
Alopochen aegyptiacaLC
Recorded all year
Goldcrest
Regulus regulusLC
Recorded all year
Stock Dove
Columba oenasLC
Recorded all year
Alpine Chough
Pyrrhocorax graculusLC
Recorded all year
Crested Tit
Lophophanes cristatusLC
Recorded all year
Hooded Crow
Corvus cornixLC
Recorded all year
Water Rail
Rallus aquaticusLC
Recorded all year
Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisusLC
Recorded all year
Water Pipit
Anthus spinolettaLC
Recorded all year
Dunnock
Prunella modularisLC
Recorded all year
Treecreeper
Certhia familiarisLC
Recorded all year
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetosLC
Recorded all year
Willow Tit
Poecile montanusLC
Recorded all year
Ruddy Shelduck
Tadorna ferrugineaLC
Recorded all year
Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhulaLC
Recorded all year
Cirl Bunting
Emberiza cirlusLC
Recorded all year
Dipper
Cinclus cinclusLC
Recorded all year
Mediterranean Gull
Ichthyaetus melanocephalusLC
Recorded all year
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostraLC
Recorded all year
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinusLC
Recorded all year
Bearded Tit
Panurus biarmicusLC
Recorded all year
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscusLC
Recorded all year
Tawny Owl
Strix alucoLC
Recorded all year
Cattle Egret
Ardea ibisLC
Recorded all year
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Dryobates minorLC
Recorded all year
Common Pheasant
Phasianus colchicusLC
Recorded all year
Mandarin Duck
Aix galericulataLC
Recorded all year
Northern Goshawk
Astur gentilisLC
Recorded all year
Red-billed Chough
Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxLC
Regularly Apr–Feb
Muscovy Duck
Cairina moschataLC
Regularly Sep–Jul
Barn Owl
Tyto albaLC
Recorded all year
Wood Duck
Aix sponsaLC
Regularly Apr–Feb
Summer visitors
(64)Arrives to breed; scarce or absent in winter
Blackcap
Sylvia atricapillaLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Common Swift
Apus apusLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Black Redstart
Phoenicurus ochrurosLC
Recorded all year
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rusticaLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybitaLC
Recorded all year
House Martin
Delichon urbicumLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Common Reed-warbler
Acrocephalus scirpaceusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Cuckoo
Cuculus canorusLC
Regularly Apr–Jul
Serin
Serinus serinusLC
Regularly Feb–Dec
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchosLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelosLC
Recorded all year
Garden Warbler
Sylvia borinLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Red-backed Shrike
Lanius collurioLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Common Tern
Sterna hirundoLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Golden Oriole
Oriolus oriolusLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striataLC
Regularly May–Oct
Common Redstart
Phoenicurus phoenicurusLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Stonechat
Saxicola rubicolaLC
Recorded all year
Linnet
Linaria cannabinaLC
Recorded all year
Whinchat
Saxicola rubetraLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Alpine Swift
Tachymarptis melbaLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Savi's Warbler
Locustella luscinioidesLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Wheatear
Oenanthe oenantheLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Wryneck
Jynx torquillaLC
Regularly Mar–Aug
Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilusLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Sand Martin
Riparia ripariaLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Hobby
Falco subbuteoLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Western Marsh-harrier
Circus aeruginosusLC
Recorded all year
Crag Martin
Ptyonoprogne rupestrisLC
Regularly Feb–Oct
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialisLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Marsh Warbler
Acrocephalus palustrisLC
Regularly May–Aug
Whitethroat
Curruca communisLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Grasshopper Warbler
Locustella naeviaLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Wood Sandpiper
Tringa glareolaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Lesser Whitethroat
Curruca currucaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Little Bittern
Ixobrychus minutusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Purple Heron
Ardea purpureaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
European Bee-eater
Merops apiasterLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Corn Bunting
Emberiza calandraLC
Recorded all year
Little Egret
Egretta garzettaLC
Recorded all year
European Honey-buzzard
Pernis apivorusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Black Tern
Chlidonias nigerLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Ring Ouzel
Turdus torquatusLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Little Ringed Plover
Thinornis dubiusLC
Regularly Mar–Sep
Redshank
Tringa totanusLC
Regularly Mar–Sep
Black-crowned Night-heron
Nycticorax nycticoraxLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Hoopoe
Upupa epopsLC
Regularly Mar–Sep
European Turtle-dove
Streptopelia turturVU
Regularly Apr–Sep
Wood Warbler
Phylloscopus sibilatrixLC
Regularly Apr–Aug
Common Quail
Coturnix coturnixLC
Regularly Apr–Jul
Sedge Warbler
Acrocephalus schoenobaenusLC
Regularly Mar–Sep
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammeaLC
Recorded all year
Black Grouse
Lyrurus tetrixLC
Recorded all year
Osprey
Pandion haliaetusLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Citril Finch
Carduelis citrinellaLC
Regularly Feb–Oct
Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush
Monticola saxatilisLC
Regularly May–Sep
Woodlark
Lullula arboreaLC
Regularly Oct–Jul
Blue Rock-thrush
Monticola solitariusLC
Regularly Jan–Aug
Rock Ptarmigan
Lagopus mutaLC
Regularly Feb–Nov
Arctic Tern
Sterna paradisaeaLC
Regularly May–Jul
Canada Goose
Branta canadensisLC
Regularly Feb–Nov
Griffon Vulture
Gyps fulvusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Pallid Swift
Apus pallidusLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Common Rosefinch
Carpodacus erythrinusLC
Regularly May–Jul
Winter visitors
(24)Present outside the breeding season
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucosLC
Regularly Jul–May
Gadwall
Mareca streperaLC
Recorded all year
Great White Egret
Ardea albaLC
Recorded all year
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthisLC
Recorded all year
Pochard
Aythya ferinaVU
Recorded all year
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeataLC
Regularly Aug–May
Eurasian Teal
Anas creccaLC
Recorded all year
Common Shelduck
Tadorna tadornaLC
Recorded all year
Curlew
Numenius arquataNT
Recorded all year
Eurasian Siskin
Spinus spinusLC
Recorded all year
Hawfinch
Coccothraustes coccothraustesLC
Recorded all year
Eider
Somateria mollissimaNT
Recorded all year
Black-necked Grebe
Podiceps nigricollisLC
Regularly Aug–May
Common Snipe
Gallinago gallinagoLC
Regularly Jul–May
Little Gull
Hydrocoloeus minutusLC
Regularly Apr–Feb
Northern Pintail
Anas acutaLC
Regularly Aug–May
Eurasian Wigeon
Mareca penelopeLC
Regularly Sep–May
Eurasian Woodcock
Scolopax rusticolaLC
Regularly Sep–Jun
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serratorLC
Regularly Nov–May
Barnacle Goose
Branta leucopsisLC
Recorded all year
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegusNT
Regularly Sep–May
Horned Grebe
Podiceps auritusVU
Regularly Nov–May
Common Crane
Grus grusLC
Regularly Oct–May
Red-throated Loon
Gavia stellataLC
Regularly Nov–May
Passage migrants
(32)Seen mainly in spring and autumn migration
Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flavaLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
European Pied Flycatcher
Ficedula hypoleucaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Garganey
Spatula querquedulaLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Greenshank
Tringa nebulariaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Ruff
Calidris pugnaxLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticulaLC
Regularly Apr–Oct
Squacco Heron
Ardeola ralloidesLC
Regularly Apr–Jun
Temminck's Stint
Calidris temminckiiLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Black-tailed Godwit
Limosa limosaNT
Regularly Feb–Aug
Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellusLC
Regularly Jan–Sep
Montagu's Harrier
Circus pygargusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopusLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Eurasian Spoonbill
Platalea leucorodiaLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
White-winged Tern
Chlidonias leucopterusLC
Regularly May–Sep
Little Stint
Calidris minutaLC
Regularly May–Oct
Red Knot
Calidris canutusNT
Regularly May–Sep
Sanderling
Calidris albaLC
Regularly Apr–Sep
Curlew Sandpiper
Calidris ferrugineaNT
Regularly Apr–Sep
Bar-tailed Godwit
Limosa lapponicaNT
Regularly Apr–Oct
Woodchat Shrike
Lanius senatorNT
Regularly Apr–Jun
Avocet
Recurvirostra avosettaLC
Regularly Mar–Jun
Spotted Redshank
Tringa erythropusLC
Regularly Mar–Nov
Black Swan
Cygnus atratusLC
Regularly Apr–Jan
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpresLC
Regularly May–Sep
Spotted Crake
Porzana porzanaLC
Regularly Mar–Oct
Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarolaLC
Regularly May–Oct
Gull-billed Tern
Gelochelidon niloticaLC
Regularly May–Jun
Short-toed Lark
Calandrella brachydactylaLC
Regularly Apr–May
Little Tern
Sternula albifronsLC
Regularly May–Jul
Sandwich Tern
Thalasseus sandvicensisLC
Regularly May–Aug
Eurasian Stone-curlew
Burhinus oedicnemusLC
Regularly Apr–May
Kentish Plover
Charadrius alexandrinusLC
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