Birds to See in East Riding of Yorkshire in May
181 bird species on our list for East Riding of Yorkshire are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Woodpigeon, Barn Swallow, Carrion Crow, Blackbird and European Herring Gull. New this month: Common Swift, Little Tern, European Pied Flycatcher and Curlew Sandpiper and 12 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From East Riding of Yorkshire’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 181 birds in May
181 birds
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.30% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.20% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.98% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.57% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.51% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.32% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.15% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 1.15% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.11% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.94% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.92% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.87% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.85% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in May
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.82% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.75% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.72% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in May
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in May
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.61% in May
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentCommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaSummer visitorCommon42–45 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.54% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.53% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.53% in May
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenanthePassage migrantCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.46% in May
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentCommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorCommon21–25 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.42% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.41% in May
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisSummer visitorCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentUncommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.26% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.23% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.21% in May
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
PochardAythya ferinaResidentCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusResidentUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaWinter visitorCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.13% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.12% in May
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioPassage migrantUncommon16–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.11% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterWinter visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaSummer visitorUncommon80–90 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.08% in May
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusSummer visitorCommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaWinter visitorUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorCommon25–30 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.07% in May
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusWinter visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.07% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in May
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in May
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.06% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in May
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusWinter visitorUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentUncommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in May
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in May
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisResidentRare69–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusPassage migrantUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.04% in May
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May · 0.04% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisResidentUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Little StintCalidris minutaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in May
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in May
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · records held back in May (protected)
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturPassage migrantRare26–28 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.04% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorCommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in May
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorUncommon50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.03% in May
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.03% in May
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaSummer visitorRare63–73 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.03% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusPassage migrantRare54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorUncommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.03% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxSummer visitorRare54–67 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.02% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in May
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusSummer visitorUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in May
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaSummer visitorRare12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.02% in May
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisWinter visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in May
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisPassage migrantUncommon52–68 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.02% in May
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesPassage migrantUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
Black SwanCygnus atratusSummer visitorRare110–142 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentRare46–56 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixPassage migrantRare44–51 cmRegularly Mar–May · 0.01% in May
DotterelEudromias morinellusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataSummer visitorRare41–49 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in May
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.01% in May
WoodlarkLullula arboreaResidentRare15–17 cmRegularly Mar–May · 0.01% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · records held back in May (protected)
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–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