Birds to See in Norfolk in May
179 bird species on our list for Norfolk are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Jackdaw, Eurasian Wren and Chiffchaff. New this month: Common Swift, Little Tern, Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper and 10 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Norfolk’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 · 2.87% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.30% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.19% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.71% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.62% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 1.45% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.37% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.34% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.24% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentCommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.11% in May
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentCommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in May
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.91% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.85% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentCommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.69% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.66% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaSummer visitorCommon80–90 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.46% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.46% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.45% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.45% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.39% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.37% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.34% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.33% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.32% in May
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentCommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.28% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusSummer visitorCommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.25% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenanthePassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.23% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisSummer visitorUncommon69–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.19% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxSummer visitorCommon20–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturSummer visitorUncommon26–28 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.17% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.16% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.13% in May
WoodlarkLullula arboreaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.12% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentUncommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorUncommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisResidentUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.08% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in May
NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusSummer visitorUncommon24–28 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.08% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
DotterelEudromias morinellusPassage migrantUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.05% in May
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Little StintCalidris minutaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.05% in May
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.04% in May
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorCommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in May
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchosPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.04% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusPassage migrantUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in May
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentUncommon53–57 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.03% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorRare48–66 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.03% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in May
Purple HeronArdea purpureaPassage migrantRare78–90 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.03% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentRare54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioPassage migrantRare16–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusSummer visitorUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorRare54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in May
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentRare38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Golden OrioleOriolus oriolusPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in May
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixSummer visitorRare16–18 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaPassage migrantRare66–94 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in May
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixPassage migrantRare44–51 cmRegularly Mar–May · 0.00% in May
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusSummer visitorRare86–230 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.00% in May
Bar-headed GooseAnser indicusResidentRare68–78 cmRegularly Mar–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