Birds to See in Surrey in May
133 bird species on our list for Surrey are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Woodpigeon, Blackbird, European Robin, Carrion Crow and Magpie. New this month: Nightjar, Spotted Flycatcher, Ruddy Turnstone and Sanderling and 1 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Surrey’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 133 birds in May
133 birds
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 3.70% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 3.70% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.65% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.36% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 3.15% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 3.13% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 2.78% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.70% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.70% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.49% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 2.42% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 2.37% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.28% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.70% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.50% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.42% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in May
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in May
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentCommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusPassage migrantCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.77% in May
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentCommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.73% in May
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentCommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.68% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.68% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.66% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.59% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May
WoodlarkLullula arboreaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.34% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.33% in May
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentUncommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.31% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.28% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.28% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentUncommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusSummer visitorUncommon24–28 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.17% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.16% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchosSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.14% in May
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataSummer visitorUncommon50–60 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.14% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentUncommon58–67 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.13% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaSummer visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.12% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisWinter visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.12% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenanthePassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.09% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in May
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaPassage migrantUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusSummer visitorUncommon40–45 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.05% in May
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.05% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
RedshankTringa totanusSummer visitorUncommon27–29 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · 0.04% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorUncommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentUncommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaPassage migrantUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.02% in May
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.02% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentRare18–20 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.01% in May
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusSummer visitorUncommon37–40 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.01% in May
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentRare53–57 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.01% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaPassage migrantRare26–29 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · records held back in May (protected)
GreenshankTringa nebulariaPassage migrantUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorResidentRare14–16 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.01% in May
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusPassage migrantRare54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.00% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentRare28–32 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentRare48–56 cmRegularly Aug–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