Birds to See in Cornwall in May
152 bird species on our list for Cornwall are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are European Herring Gull, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow and Barn Swallow. New this month: Spotted Flycatcher, Pomarine Jaeger, Red-backed Shrike and Glossy Ibis and 5 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Cornwall’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 152 birds in May
152 birds
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.62% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 3.35% in May
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 3.19% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.14% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 3.08% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 3.04% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.87% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.86% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 2.73% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.54% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.45% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.31% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.86% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.51% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.23% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.09% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 1.02% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusResidentCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.99% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.78% in May
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.70% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.63% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.61% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.49% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.45% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusPassage migrantUncommon60–66 cmRegularly Mar–Jun · 0.45% in May
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxResidentCommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.37% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.27% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentUncommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.20% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaWinter visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaWinter visitorCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in May
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentUncommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorUncommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.11% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaPassage migrantUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.08% in May
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.08% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in May
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturSummer visitorUncommon26–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.05% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusSummer visitorUncommon48–56 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.05% in May
Woodchat ShrikeLanius senatorPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in May
NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusSummer visitorUncommon24–28 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.05% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentUncommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in May
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Golden OrioleOriolus oriolusPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.03% in May
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusPassage migrantUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in May
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisResidentUncommon52–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in May
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaWinter visitorUncommon58–77 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentUncommon48–66 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Black GuillemotCepphus gryllePassage migrantUncommon30–32 cmRegularly Jan–May · 0.01% in May
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentRare63–73 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in May
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioPassage migrantUncommon16–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Cirl BuntingEmberiza cirlusRecords withheldRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · records held back in May (protected)
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixPassage migrantRare44–51 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.01% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorUncommon46–51 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in May
Purple HeronArdea purpureaPassage migrantRare78–90 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.01% in May
Golden PheasantChrysolophus pictusPassage migrantRare90–105 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.01% in May
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentRare11–12 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentRare16–19 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.01% in May
Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactylaPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentRare28–32 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 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