Birds to See in Wiltshire in May
128 bird species on our list for Wiltshire are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Woodpigeon, Blackbird, European Robin, Jackdaw and Blue Tit. New this month: Spotted Flycatcher, Common Quail, Eurasian Woodcock and Woodlark and 2 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Wiltshire’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 128 birds in May
128 birds
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 4.37% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 4.33% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.34% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 3.33% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 3.00% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.94% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 2.69% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.62% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.58% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.54% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.51% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.19% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 2.18% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.95% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.45% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.40% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.90% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in May
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in May
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusPassage migrantCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.79% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.79% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in May
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.63% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in May
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentCommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.45% in May
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.40% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.39% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.36% in May
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaSummer visitorUncommon9–10 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.36% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.31% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.25% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.24% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentUncommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaSummer visitorUncommon53–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.22% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.20% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusSummer visitorUncommon40–45 cmRegularly Feb–Aug · 0.17% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentUncommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.14% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaWinter visitorUncommon58–67 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.13% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataSummer visitorUncommon50–60 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.12% in May
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.11% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.11% in May
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.09% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenanthePassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.09% in May
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataSummer visitorUncommon41–49 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.08% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.08% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.07% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.07% in May
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.07% in May
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentUncommon63–73 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.06% in May
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisPassage migrantUncommon69–81 cmRegularly Mar–Jun · 0.06% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.06% in May
WoodlarkLullula arboreaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.06% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentUncommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaPassage migrantUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.04% in May
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentUncommon41–52 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · records held back in May (protected)
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixSummer visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.03% in May
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.03% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Jan–Jul · 0.03% in May
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchosPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.03% in May
Black SwanCygnus atratusWinter visitorRare110–142 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.02% in May
RedshankTringa totanusResidentUncommon27–29 cmRegularly Mar–Jun · 0.02% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantRare40–46 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.02% in May
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisResidentRare52–68 cmRegularly Dec–Jun · records held back in May (protected)
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorPassage migrantRare14–16 cmRegularly Dec–May · 0.01% in May
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusPassage migrantRare17–19 cmRegularly Dec–Aug · records held back in May (protected)
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 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