Birds to See in Staffordshire in May
145 bird species on our list for Staffordshire are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Blackbird, Woodpigeon, European Robin, Carrion Crow and Blue Tit. New this month: Nightjar, Spotted Flycatcher, Sanderling and Ruddy Turnstone and 5 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Staffordshire’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
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 3.01% in May
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.90% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.73% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.72% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.47% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 2.46% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.42% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.38% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 2.25% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 2.13% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 2.11% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.76% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.71% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.63% in May
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.31% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.15% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.99% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.89% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusSummer visitorCommon40–45 cmRegularly Jan–Aug · 0.85% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.83% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusPassage migrantCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.81% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.79% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.71% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in May
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.61% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.57% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentCommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.45% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
RedshankTringa totanusSummer visitorCommon27–29 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.41% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaSummer visitorUncommon42–45 cmRegularly Mar–Jul · 0.38% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.37% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.36% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataSummer visitorCommon50–60 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.34% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.33% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.28% in May
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · records held back in May (protected)
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.27% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.23% in May
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentCommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisWinter visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.18% in May
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisSummer visitorUncommon69–81 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.18% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.14% in May
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.13% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisWinter visitorCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataSummer visitorUncommon41–49 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.11% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaWinter visitorCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaResidentUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.09% in May
NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusSummer visitorUncommon24–28 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.09% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.08% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.07% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.07% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.07% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.06% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.06% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May · 0.06% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusWinter visitorUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.05% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.04% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisResidentRare58–70 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.04% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusSummer visitorUncommon37–40 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · 0.04% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.04% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.03% in May
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorUncommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in May
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPassage migrantUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.03% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaPassage migrantUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.03% in May
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaWinter visitorUncommon37–42 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.02% in May
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisWinter visitorUncommon52–68 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in May
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentUncommon110–142 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.02% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.02% in May
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixPassage migrantRare16–18 cmRegularly May · 0.02% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in May
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisWinter visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.02% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentUncommon48–56 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.02% in May
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentRare16–19 cmRegularly May · 0.02% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly May · 0.02% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusPassage migrantUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiScarceRare13–15 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in May
WoodlarkLullula arboreaResidentRare15–17 cmRegularly Mar–May · 0.01% 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