Birds to See in Angus in May
117 bird species on our list for Angus are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Chaffinch and Blackbird. New this month: Common Tern, Common Swift, Sedge Warbler and Canada Goose and 9 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Angus’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 117 birds in May
117 birds
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.19% in May
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 3.14% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 3.01% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.61% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.51% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 2.41% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.29% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.19% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.82% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.72% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosSummer visitorCommon20–23 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 1.69% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.52% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 1.39% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.34% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Aug · 1.29% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 1.24% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in May
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.19% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 1.12% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.10% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in May
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.85% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.75% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.72% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.65% in May
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusSummer visitorCommon26–29 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.55% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusPassage migrantCommon32–34 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.52% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in May
GadwallMareca streperaSummer visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.52% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.52% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.50% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.50% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusSummer visitorCommon60–66 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.50% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaSummer visitorCommon17–20 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.47% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.45% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.45% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.45% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.45% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusSummer visitorCommon48–56 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.42% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.40% in May
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.37% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisSummer visitorCommon65–80 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.35% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.35% in May
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.35% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.35% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxSummer visitorCommon54–67 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.32% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.32% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.30% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.30% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.30% in May
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.30% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · 0.30% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.30% in May
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.25% in May
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · records held back in May (protected)
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.22% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisSummer visitorCommon76–110 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.20% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusSummer visitorUncommon32–35 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.20% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinPassage migrantUncommon14–15 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.20% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.20% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.20% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · records held back in May (protected)
Little EgretEgretta garzettaWinter visitorCommon55–65 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.17% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.17% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May · 0.15% in May
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusPassage migrantUncommon23–24 cmRegularly May · 0.15% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisWinter visitorCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.12% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaWinter visitorCommon40–44 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · 0.10% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusSummer visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.10% in May
Common LoonGavia immerScarceUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · records held back in May (protected)
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 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