Birds to See in Northern Ireland in May
138 bird species on our list for Northern Ireland are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Common Starling, European Robin and Hooded Crow. New this month: Red Knot, Arctic Tern, Spotted Flycatcher and Little Gull and 6 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Northern Ireland’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 138 birds in May
138 birds
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 3.09% in May
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.87% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.82% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.73% in May
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.69% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.49% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.36% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.30% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.28% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.26% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 2.02% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.82% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.69% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.39% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.38% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.21% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in May
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in May
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.83% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.80% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.78% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.72% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in May
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.70% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in May
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.63% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.60% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.60% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.54% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.37% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.30% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.29% in May
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.29% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.27% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.27% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.25% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorUncommon50–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.24% in May
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusSummer visitorUncommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentUncommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.17% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.15% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.13% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.12% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.10% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.10% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.09% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.09% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in May
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisSummer visitorUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.07% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.07% in May
DipperCinclus cinclusSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.05% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinPassage migrantUncommon14–15 cmRegularly May · 0.05% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneWinter visitorUncommon45–47 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in May
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.05% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaSummer visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Jan–Aug · 0.04% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserPassage migrantUncommon58–68 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.04% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.03% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.03% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentUncommon48–56 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.03% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantCommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in May
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.03% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.03% in May
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusPassage migrantUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · records held back in May (protected)
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May · 0.02% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Dec–Aug · records held back in May (protected)
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusPassage migrantUncommon54–58 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.02% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.02% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantUncommon25–30 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.02% 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