Birds to See in Argyll and Bute in May
138 bird species on our list for Argyll and Bute are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Eurasian Oystercatcher, European Herring Gull, Hooded Crow, Barn Swallow and Blackbird. New this month: Whitethroat, Arctic Tern, Red-billed Chough and Spotted Flycatcher and 10 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Argyll and Bute’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
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 3.29% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.16% in May
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.93% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.58% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.52% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 2.37% in May
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.35% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.11% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 2.09% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusPassage migrantCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 1.68% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in May
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.34% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.31% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.29% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.17% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.13% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 1.10% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in May
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.90% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.87% in May
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.83% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.79% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.69% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.67% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.67% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in May
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.62% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorCommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.50% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.50% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.49% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.49% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon27–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.45% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorSummer visitorCommon23–26 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.36% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.35% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentCommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorCommon50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.34% in May
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.30% in May
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.27% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.25% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.22% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinPassage migrantUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.21% in May
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentCommon41–52 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
MagpiePica picaWinter visitorCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.17% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.17% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoSummer visitorUncommon37–43 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.14% in May
DipperCinclus cinclusWinter visitorUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.13% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusSummer visitorUncommon32–35 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.12% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisWinter visitorCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorUncommon41–46 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.12% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.11% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.11% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusSummer visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.10% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaSummer visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.08% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.08% in May
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxWinter visitorCommon39–43 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.07% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentUncommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorCommon40–47 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.07% in May
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorCommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.06% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · records held back in May (protected)
Little TernSternula albifronsPassage migrantUncommon21–25 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.03% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.03% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in May
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.03% in May
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.02% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.02% in May
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.02% in May
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Barn OwlTyto albaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.02% in May
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.02% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentRare32–34 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.02% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusPassage migrantUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Dec–May · 0.01% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusPassage migrantRare23–24 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusPassage migrantUncommon37–40 cmRegularly Jan–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