Birds to See in Edinburgh in May
107 bird species on our list for Edinburgh are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Magpie, Carrion Crow and Lesser Black-backed Gull. New this month: Common Swift, Common Tern, Arctic Tern and Ringed Plover and 5 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Edinburgh’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 107 birds in May
107 birds
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 5.29% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 4.97% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 4.45% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 4.36% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 3.98% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.95% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 3.90% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 3.66% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 3.60% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 3.34% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.10% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 2.83% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 2.80% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.75% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 2.62% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.31% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 1.81% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.21% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.10% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 1.10% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.83% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.65% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.45% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.26% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.21% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.20% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaSummer visitorUncommon58–67 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.19% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorUncommon45–50 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.17% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentUncommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentUncommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
CuckooCuculus canorusPassage migrantUncommon32–34 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.09% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenanthePassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.08% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.08% in May
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.08% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinPassage migrantUncommon14–15 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.07% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.07% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaWinter visitorUncommon37–42 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.05% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · records held back in May (protected)
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.05% in May
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaSummer visitorUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.05% in May
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · records held back in May (protected)
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.04% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.03% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.03% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusWinter visitorUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaPassage migrantUncommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantRare58–70 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · records held back in May (protected)
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaScarceRare40–50 cmRegularly Mar–Jul · records held back in May (protected)
PochardAythya ferinaScarceRare42–49 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 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