Birds to See in West Yorkshire in May
150 bird species on our list for West Yorkshire are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Magpie, Carrion Crow and European Robin. New this month: Common Swift, Hobby, Cattle Egret and Greenshank and 11 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From West Yorkshire’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 150 birds in May
150 birds
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 3.49% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 3.36% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.99% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.97% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.61% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.52% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 2.31% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.90% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.82% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.68% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 1.60% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.43% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 1.43% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in May
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 1.21% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusSummer visitorCommon40–45 cmRegularly Jan–Aug · 1.11% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.02% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.84% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.83% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in May
PochardAythya ferinaResidentCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.78% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.78% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.69% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in May
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in May
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisSummer visitorUncommon69–81 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.47% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
RedshankTringa totanusSummer visitorUncommon27–29 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.37% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusPassage migrantUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.37% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.37% in May
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.25% in May
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaSummer visitorCommon80–90 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.24% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.24% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentUncommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.21% in May
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaSummer visitorUncommon42–45 cmRegularly Mar–Jul · 0.20% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · records held back in May (protected)
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.19% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.16% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaSummer visitorCommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.16% in May
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentUncommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaWinter visitorCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.10% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in May
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.06% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriWinter visitorUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May · 0.05% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.05% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.05% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaPassage migrantRare33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.04% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.04% in May
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.04% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.03% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusWinter visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.03% in May
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentUncommon37–40 cmRegularly Mar–Jul · 0.03% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Mar–May · 0.03% in May
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentRare63–73 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.03% in May
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorRare33–38 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.03% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.03% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaWinter visitorUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPassage migrantUncommon19–21 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.02% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentRare37–41 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.02% in May
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisResidentUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Jan–Aug · 0.02% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in May
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentRare53–57 cmRegularly May · 0.02% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraSummer visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.01% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorUncommon30–35 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusPassage migrantUncommon54–58 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentRare15–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusScarceRare10–11 cmRegularly Feb–Aug · records held back in May (protected)
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