Birds to See in Essex in May
145 bird species on our list for Essex are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, European Robin and Magpie. New this month: Yellow-legged Gull, Sandwich Tern, Whinchat and European Turtle-dove and 3 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Essex’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 145 birds in May
145 birds
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.79% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.48% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.48% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.34% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 2.02% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.90% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.68% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.56% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in May
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 1.27% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.23% in May
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.19% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.00% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in May
PochardAythya ferinaResidentCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.80% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.78% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in May
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchosSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.69% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in May
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentCommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentCommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in May
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentCommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentCommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.51% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.47% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.43% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.43% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.40% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.38% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.34% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisWinter visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentCommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.23% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturSummer visitorUncommon26–28 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.20% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorCommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.19% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaWinter visitorCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosPassage migrantCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaSummer visitorUncommon80–90 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.12% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenanthePassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.10% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentUncommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisResidentUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.08% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentUncommon53–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaPassage migrantUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.04% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in May
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisSummer visitorUncommon52–68 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.03% in May
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPassage migrantUncommon19–21 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in May
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusSummer visitorUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.03% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentUncommon110–142 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.02% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.02% in May
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentRare86–230 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.01% in May
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaWinter visitorUncommon9–10 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentRare37–41 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in May
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorPassage migrantRare14–16 cmRegularly Jan–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