Birds to See in Aberdeenshire in May
148 bird species on our list for Aberdeenshire are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Woodpigeon, Barn Swallow, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow and European Herring Gull. New this month: Common Swift, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler and Little Egret and 21 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Aberdeenshire’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 148 birds in May
148 birds
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 3.07% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 3.01% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.96% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.74% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.70% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.62% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.28% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.26% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.95% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in May
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.32% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.26% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.08% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 1.05% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.90% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.81% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.77% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.75% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.72% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.70% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.67% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.63% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in May
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.56% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.56% in May
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.47% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorCommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.43% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.42% in May
GadwallMareca streperaSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.42% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.40% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusPassage migrantUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.36% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaSummer visitorCommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.36% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon27–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.35% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.33% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentUncommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusWinter visitorCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.29% in May
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentCommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleSummer visitorUncommon30–32 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · 0.27% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.27% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusPassage migrantUncommon48–56 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.25% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.24% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.24% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantUncommon37–41 cmRegularly May · 0.23% in May
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.19% in May
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusSummer visitorUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.19% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.18% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaWinter visitorCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.18% in May
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.16% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly May · 0.16% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusWinter visitorCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.15% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.15% in May
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaSummer visitorUncommon80–90 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.14% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.14% in May
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorUncommon50–58 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.14% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.14% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinPassage migrantUncommon14–15 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.13% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusSummer visitorUncommon32–35 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.13% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.13% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.13% in May
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.11% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.11% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.10% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorUncommon80–104 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.09% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.08% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.08% in May
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.08% in May
Common LoonGavia immerResidentUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in May
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaWinter visitorCommon55–65 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.06% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · records held back in May (protected)
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly May · 0.05% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.05% in May
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · records held back in May (protected)
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in May
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.04% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in May
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentUncommon66–94 cmRegularly Jan–Jul · records held back in May (protected)
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Dec–May · 0.02% in May
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixPassage migrantRare16–18 cmRegularly May · 0.02% in May
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.02% in May
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusPassage migrantUncommon62–68 cmRegularly May · 0.02% in May
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentRare58–77 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 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