Birds to See in Suffolk in May
172 bird species on our list for Suffolk are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, European Robin, Blackbird and Chiffchaff. New this month: Whinchat, Curlew Sandpiper, Nightjar and European Turtle-dove and 11 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Suffolk’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 172 birds in May
172 birds
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.51% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.24% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.03% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.79% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.62% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.58% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.46% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.28% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in May
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.15% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.15% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.13% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentCommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in May
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in May
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in May
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentCommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.81% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.74% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorCommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.70% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.69% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.63% in May
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchosPassage migrantCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.60% in May
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisSummer visitorCommon69–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.54% in May
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentCommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in May
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisResidentCommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.43% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentUncommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.38% in May
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusSummer visitorCommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisWinter visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
WoodlarkLullula arboreaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.27% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.25% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.24% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.19% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.18% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenanthePassage migrantCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.18% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.14% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.13% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.13% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturSummer visitorUncommon26–28 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaSummer visitorCommon80–90 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.10% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.10% in May
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.09% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaWinter visitorUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusSummer visitorUncommon24–28 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.08% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.07% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusPassage migrantUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.07% in May
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in May
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.06% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxSummer visitorCommon20–32 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.05% in May
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusSummer visitorCommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.04% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in May
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaWinter visitorUncommon9–10 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.04% in May
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May · 0.04% in May
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.03% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorUncommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Bar-headed GooseAnser indicusResidentRare68–78 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.02% in May
Little StintCalidris minutaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentRare16–19 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.02% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Purple HeronArdea purpureaPassage migrantRare78–90 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.02% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusWinter visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.02% in May
HoopoeUpupa epopsPassage migrantRare25–32 cmRegularly May · 0.02% in May
Golden OrioleOriolus oriolusScarceRare22–24 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisWinter visitorUncommon52–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Common CraneGrus grusResidentUncommon100–130 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · records held back in May (protected)
Cattle EgretArdea ibisWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in May
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentRare53–57 cmRegularly Mar–May · 0.01% in May
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.01% in May
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.01% in May
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusSummer visitorRare86–230 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.00% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaSummer visitorUncommon50–71 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in May
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in May
Black SwanCygnus atratusSummer visitorRare110–142 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in May
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentRare53–63 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentRare38–42 cmRegularly May–Jan · 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