Birds to See in Turkey in May
211 bird species on our list for Turkey are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are House Sparrow, Barn Swallow, Hooded Crow, Magpie and Red-backed Shrike. New this month: Tufted Duck, Common Rosefinch, Eleonora's Falcon and Boreal Owl.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Turkey’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 211 birds in May
211 birds
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.64% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 2.46% in May
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.36% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in May
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.73% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.67% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in May
European Bee-eaterMerops apiasterSummer visitorCommon27–29 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.52% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.52% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in May
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisResidentCommon52–68 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in May
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentCommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · 1.16% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in May
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchosSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.05% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in May
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
HoopoeUpupa epopsSummer visitorCommon25–32 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.96% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentCommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in May
Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melbaSummer visitorCommon20–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.82% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.76% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.75% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.71% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.70% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.69% in May
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturSummer visitorCommon26–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.65% in May
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.60% in May
Squacco HeronArdeola ralloidesSummer visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.59% in May
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaResidentCommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.56% in May
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
Purple HeronArdea purpureaSummer visitorCommon78–90 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.50% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in May
Golden OrioleOriolus oriolusSummer visitorCommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.49% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.46% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.45% in May
European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorusSummer visitorCommon52–60 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.45% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaWinter visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Sardinian WarblerCurruca melanocephalaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.39% in May
WoodlarkLullula arboreaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
Woodchat ShrikeLanius senatorSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.38% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorCommon58–65 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.37% in May
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorCommon19–21 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.37% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorCommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.36% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.34% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxSummer visitorCommon20–32 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.33% in May
Cirl BuntingEmberiza cirlusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Little BitternIxobrychus minutusSummer visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentUncommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
Little StintCalidris minutaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.29% in May
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentCommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosResidentCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
SerinSerinus serinusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.27% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseusResidentCommon120–145 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaWinter visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentUncommon32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.24% in May
PochardAythya ferinaResidentCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactylaSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.23% in May
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Marsh WarblerAcrocephalus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in May
Pallid SwiftApus pallidusSummer visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.22% in May
Eurasian Scops-owlOtus scopsSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.21% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosWinter visitorCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.21% in May
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentUncommon53–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusSummer visitorUncommon40–45 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.19% in May
Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestrisSummer visitorUncommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Booted EagleHieraaetus pennatusSummer visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.19% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.18% in May
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaResidentUncommon80–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinPassage migrantUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.18% in May
Blue Rock-thrushMonticola solitariusResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.17% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxSummer visitorUncommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaWinter visitorUncommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in May
NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusSummer visitorUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaWinter visitorCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorUncommon33–42 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.13% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixSummer visitorUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentUncommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentUncommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Egyptian VultureNeophron percnopterusSummer visitorUncommon55–65 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.12% in May
Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargusSummer visitorUncommon43–47 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.12% in May
Short-toed TreecreeperCerthia brachydactylaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaResidentUncommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Moustached WarblerAcrocephalus melanopogonResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Rufous-tailed Rock-thrushMonticola saxatilisSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentUncommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.09% in May
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.08% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Cinereous VultureAegypius monachusResidentUncommon98–120 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisWinter visitorUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Griffon VultureGyps fulvusSummer visitorUncommon93–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in May
Alpine ChoughPyrrhocorax graculusSummer visitorUncommon36–39 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.07% in May
Eleonora's FalconFalco eleonoraeSummer visitorUncommon36–42 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in May
Desert FinchRhodospiza obsoletaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Long-eared OwlAsio otusResidentUncommon35–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.06% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in May
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaWinter visitorCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in May
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusSummer visitorUncommon23–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentUncommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesResidentUncommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Common CraneGrus grusWinter visitorUncommon100–130 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Savi's WarblerLocustella luscinioidesSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in May
Eurasian Stone-curlewBurhinus oedicnemusSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.04% in May
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in May
Subalpine WarblerCurruca cantillansSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.04% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.04% in May
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Northern GoshawkAstur gentilisResidentUncommon46–61 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisResidentUncommon69–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataWinter visitorUncommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusWinter visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.03% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorUncommon40–47 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.03% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusWinter visitorUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in May
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaWinter visitorUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
WryneckJynx torquillaSummer visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.03% in May
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentUncommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaResidentRare40–50 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.02% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaWinter visitorUncommon58–77 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentRare28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentRare12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in May
Audouin's GullIchthyaetus audouiniiResidentRare48–52 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.01% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasWinter visitorUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in May
Spotted CrakePorzana porzanaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
CorncrakeCrex crexPassage migrantRare22–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusPassage migrantRare21–28 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.01% in May
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.00% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaPassage migrantRare12–13 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.00% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusWinter visitorUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in May
Bonelli's EagleAquila fasciataPassage migrantRare65–72 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 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