Birds to See in Dumfries and Galloway in May
129 bird species on our list for Dumfries and Galloway are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Blackbird, Barn Swallow, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow and Willow Warbler. New this month: Common Swift, Cuckoo, Garden Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher and 12 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Dumfries and Galloway’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 129 birds in May
129 birds
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 3.45% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 3.37% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 3.37% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.08% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 2.82% in May
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.47% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.37% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.19% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.15% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 2.10% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.03% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.02% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.82% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.81% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon53–89 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.42% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.35% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.12% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.02% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusPassage migrantCommon32–34 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.93% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.89% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.81% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.76% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.66% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.64% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon27–28 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.56% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinPassage migrantCommon14–15 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.51% in May
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.50% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorCommon50–71 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.42% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.40% in May
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.39% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.39% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaWinter visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.38% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.36% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.35% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.31% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.28% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisPassage migrantCommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.27% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.27% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.27% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.26% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.26% in May
DipperCinclus cinclusWinter visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.23% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.22% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · 0.21% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.20% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.19% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.18% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.17% in May
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.12% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.12% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.12% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.11% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaWinter visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.10% in May
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.10% in May
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorCommon40–47 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.10% in May
CootFulica atraWinter visitorUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.09% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusWinter visitorUncommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in May
Common LoonGavia immerResidentUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · records held back in May (protected)
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Jan–Aug · 0.07% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusPassage migrantUncommon13–14 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.07% in May
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentUncommon30–36 cmRegularly May · 0.06% in May
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRegularly Jan–May · 0.06% in May
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.06% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusPassage migrantUncommon34–43 cmRegularly May · 0.06% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaPassage migrantUncommon33–39 cmRegularly May · 0.04% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May · 0.04% in May
Willow TitPoecile montanusWinter visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in May
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · records held back in May (protected)
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · records held back in May (protected)
PochardAythya ferinaScarceRare42–49 cmRegularly Apr–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