Birds to See in Oxfordshire in May
140 bird species on our list for Oxfordshire are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Woodpigeon, Blackbird, European Robin, Carrion Crow and Jackdaw. New this month: Spotted Flycatcher, Black Swan, Sanderling and Common Quail and 2 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Oxfordshire’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 140 birds in May
140 birds
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 3.59% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 3.41% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.05% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.81% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.57% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.50% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.48% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 2.42% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.29% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 2.06% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.58% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.58% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.45% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in May
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.94% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.93% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.86% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.81% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.76% in May
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in May
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentCommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.64% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.61% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusSummer visitorCommon40–45 cmRegularly Feb–Aug · 0.59% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.57% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataSummer visitorUncommon50–60 cmRegularly Feb–Aug · 0.48% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.46% in May
RedshankTringa totanusSummer visitorUncommon27–29 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.42% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentUncommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.38% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaWinter visitorUncommon58–67 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.33% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentUncommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.29% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentUncommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisSummer visitorUncommon69–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.15% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosPassage migrantCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.13% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.13% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.12% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.11% in May
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.11% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.09% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% 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
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaResidentUncommon9–10 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.06% in May
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentUncommon110–142 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.06% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.06% in May
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentUncommon53–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenanthePassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in May
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Common CraneGrus grusResidentUncommon100–130 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · records held back in May (protected)
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaWinter visitorCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaPassage migrantUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in May
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturPassage migrantRare26–28 cmRegularly May · 0.03% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataSummer visitorUncommon41–49 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.03% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisWinter visitorUncommon52–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.02% in May
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPassage migrantUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.02% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaPassage migrantUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.02% in May
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentUncommon41–52 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Dec–May · 0.02% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusWinter visitorRare86–230 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.02% in May
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusPassage migrantUncommon10–11 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · records held back in May (protected)
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaPassage migrantUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.01% in May
Little OwlAthene noctuaSummer visitorUncommon21–23 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixSummer visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusPassage migrantRare54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentRare13–14 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.00% in May
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchosPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 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