Birds to See in Switzerland in May
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.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Switzerland’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 206 birds in May
206 birds
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 3.73% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.43% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 2.96% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 2.79% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.78% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.76% in May
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.50% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 2.29% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in May
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in May
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.72% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in May
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisResidentCommon52–68 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.21% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.16% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 1.14% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in May
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentCommon53–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in May
SerinSerinus serinusSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.84% in May
Short-toed TreecreeperCerthia brachydactylaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in May
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchosSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.82% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosSummer visitorCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in May
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentCommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.72% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.55% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.51% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in May
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
FieldfareTurdus pilarisResidentCommon22–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
Golden OrioleOriolus oriolusSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.46% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.38% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.36% in May
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.32% in May
Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melbaSummer visitorCommon20–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.31% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.29% in May
Savi's WarblerLocustella luscinioidesSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.29% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentUncommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in May
WryneckJynx torquillaSummer visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.28% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.26% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.26% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.26% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusSummer visitorUncommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaPassage migrantCommon15–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.25% in May
Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestrisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.24% in May
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentUncommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaWinter visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.22% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Alpine ChoughPyrrhocorax graculusResidentCommon36–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Marsh WarblerAcrocephalus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.21% in May
Crested TitLophophanes cristatusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentCommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.19% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.18% in May
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.17% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in May
Little BitternIxobrychus minutusSummer visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.16% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentUncommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Purple HeronArdea purpureaSummer visitorUncommon78–90 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.15% in May
European Bee-eaterMerops apiasterSummer visitorUncommon27–29 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.15% in May
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaSummer visitorUncommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorusSummer visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.14% in May
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in May
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaResidentUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusSummer visitorUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.13% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.12% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.12% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaPassage migrantUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.11% in May
RedshankTringa totanusSummer visitorUncommon27–29 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.11% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.11% in May
Cirl BuntingEmberiza cirlusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in May
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentUncommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in May
HoopoeUpupa epopsSummer visitorUncommon25–32 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.09% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaWinter visitorUncommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturSummer visitorUncommon26–28 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataWinter visitorUncommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.07% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixSummer visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.06% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.06% in May
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Black GrouseLyrurus tetrixSummer visitorUncommon40–55 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Squacco HeronArdeola ralloidesPassage migrantRare40–49 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.04% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in May
Citril FinchCarduelis citrinellaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.04% in May
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in May
Rufous-tailed Rock-thrushMonticola saxatilisSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaPassage migrantUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Feb–Aug · 0.03% in May
WoodlarkLullula arboreaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.03% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusWinter visitorUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.03% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentRare41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusPassage migrantRare48–66 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.03% in May
Northern GoshawkAstur gentilisResidentUncommon46–61 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargusPassage migrantRare43–47 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaPassage migrantRare80–90 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in May
Blue Rock-thrushMonticola solitariusSummer visitorRare21–23 cmRegularly Jan–Aug · 0.02% in May
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusPassage migrantRare20–27 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Rock PtarmiganLagopus mutaSummer visitorRare34–36 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.02% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorRare33–38 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.02% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in May
Woodchat ShrikeLanius senatorPassage migrantRare17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.01% in May
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaPassage migrantRare42–45 cmRegularly Mar–Jun · 0.01% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorRare33–39 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.01% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisSummer visitorRare76–110 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.01% in May
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusWinter visitorRare40–45 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Griffon VultureGyps fulvusSummer visitorUncommon93–122 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Pallid SwiftApus pallidusSummer visitorRare16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusPassage migrantUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in May
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.01% in May
Black SwanCygnus atratusPassage migrantRare110–142 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Spotted CrakePorzana porzanaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaPassage migrantRare33–42 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.01% in May
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in May
Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactylaPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.01% in May
Audouin's GullIchthyaetus audouiniiScarceRare48–52 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Common CraneGrus grusWinter visitorUncommon100–130 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsPassage migrantRare21–25 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.01% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorRare53–69 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in May
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxResidentRare39–43 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisPassage migrantRare36–41 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentRare33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in May
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentRare47–54 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.00% in May
Eurasian Stone-curlewBurhinus oedicnemusPassage migrantRare40–44 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in May
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly May · 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