Birds to See in Kent in May
179 bird species on our list for Kent are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Magpie and European Herring Gull. New this month: Whinchat, Spotted Flycatcher, Nightjar and Hawfinch and 7 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Kent’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 179 birds in May
179 birds
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.80% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.50% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.45% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.37% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.26% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.72% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.68% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.66% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 1.65% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.40% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in May
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in May
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.09% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.99% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.92% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentCommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorCommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.75% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.75% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.70% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentCommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in May
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.55% in May
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentCommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.48% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentUncommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusSummer visitorCommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
PochardAythya ferinaResidentCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.38% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.35% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusResidentCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.34% in May
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchosSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.33% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentUncommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.29% in May
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentCommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturSummer visitorUncommon26–28 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.27% in May
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisSummer visitorUncommon69–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosPassage migrantCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaWinter visitorCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.17% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenanthePassage migrantCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.16% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorUncommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.14% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentUncommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.06% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaWinter visitorUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.05% in May
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaSummer visitorUncommon80–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in May
Purple HeronArdea purpureaPassage migrantRare78–90 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.04% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaPassage migrantUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.03% in May
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaPassage migrantUncommon50–58 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorRare12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in May
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May · 0.03% in May
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisWinter visitorUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.03% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisResidentUncommon52–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.02% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in May
SerinSerinus serinusPassage migrantRare11–12 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.02% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisWinter visitorUncommon65–80 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.02% in May
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioPassage migrantRare16–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusWinter visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusPassage migrantRare54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · records held back in May (protected)
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaWinter visitorUncommon58–77 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorRare30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in May
Black SwanCygnus atratusWinter visitorRare110–142 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusWinter visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in May
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentRare53–57 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.01% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusSummer visitorRare24–28 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.01% in May
Golden OrioleOriolus oriolusPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.01% in May
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusPassage migrantUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in May
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixPassage migrantRare16–18 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.01% in May
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in May
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Marsh WarblerAcrocephalus palustrisScarceRare13–14 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorRare17–18 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