Birds to See in Dorset in May
171 bird species on our list for Dorset are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, European Robin and European Herring Gull. New this month: Spotted Flycatcher, Nightjar, Arctic Loon and Balearic Shearwater and 7 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Dorset’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 171 birds in May
171 birds
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 3.12% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.99% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.79% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.74% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.65% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.34% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.15% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 2.14% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 2.09% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.91% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.82% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.34% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.23% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.03% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in May
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.89% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusPassage migrantCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.59% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.57% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.57% in May
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentCommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in May
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.46% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentUncommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.44% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusResidentUncommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.41% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.36% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.34% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.32% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentCommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentUncommon45–50 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.32% in May
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentUncommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.25% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.23% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.22% in May
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentUncommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.20% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.18% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaWinter visitorCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
WoodlarkLullula arboreaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusSummer visitorUncommon24–28 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.15% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.15% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.13% in May
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.13% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.12% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.11% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.11% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaWinter visitorCommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.10% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentUncommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.08% in May
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusWinter visitorUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.07% in May
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaResidentUncommon80–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaPassage migrantCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.05% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in May
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchosPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.05% in May
Black SwanCygnus atratusSummer visitorUncommon110–142 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.04% in May
Woodchat ShrikeLanius senatorPassage migrantRare17–19 cmRegularly May · 0.04% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.04% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.03% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in May
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in May
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturPassage migrantRare26–28 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentRare41–49 cmRegularly Feb–Aug · 0.03% in May
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisResidentRare58–70 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.03% in May
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in May
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.03% in May
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisSummer visitorUncommon52–68 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.03% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.02% in May
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.02% in May
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaPassage migrantRare33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaPassage migrantRare50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaWinter visitorUncommon58–77 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in May
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorRare140–165 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaPassage migrantUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Balearic ShearwaterPuffinus mauretanicusSummer visitorUncommon35–40 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Golden PheasantChrysolophus pictusPassage migrantRare90–105 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorPassage migrantRare14–16 cmRegularly Jan–May · 0.01% in May
Cirl BuntingEmberiza cirlusRecords withheldRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · records held back in May (protected)
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixSummer visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
Golden OrioleOriolus oriolusPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPassage migrantUncommon19–21 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
SerinSerinus serinusPassage migrantRare11–12 cmRegularly Apr–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