Birds to See in Eilean Siar in May
131 bird species on our list for Eilean Siar are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Eurasian Oystercatcher, European Herring Gull, Common Starling, Common Gull and Meadow Pipit. New this month: Red Knot, Sedge Warbler, European Storm-petrel and Little Egret and 21 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Eilean Siar’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 131 birds in May
131 birds
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 3.83% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.31% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.15% in May
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 3.00% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.83% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 2.56% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 2.25% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.11% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.03% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in May
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorCommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.82% in May
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.82% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaSummer visitorCommon16–22 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.72% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.71% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaSummer visitorCommon50–71 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.42% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in May
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.36% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.28% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesSummer visitorCommon9–10 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.26% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorSummer visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.26% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaSummer visitorCommon40–47 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.25% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.20% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorSummer visitorCommon140–160 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.17% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaSummer visitorCommon58–67 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.96% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.96% in May
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleSummer visitorCommon30–32 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.94% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.92% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoSummer visitorCommon51–57 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.88% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataSummer visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.85% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.84% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.80% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.80% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.78% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosSummer visitorCommon20–23 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.74% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusSummer visitorCommon34–43 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.71% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.70% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.66% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorCommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.65% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.64% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.61% in May
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.61% in May
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorCommon50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.60% in May
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.56% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorCommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.56% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.54% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.53% in May
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.41% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.41% in May
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.41% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusSummer visitorCommon40–42 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.33% in May
GadwallMareca streperaPassage migrantUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.31% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.30% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.29% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusSummer visitorCommon32–39 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.23% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.22% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorCommon40–44 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.22% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.21% in May
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in May
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentCommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.20% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.19% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusSummer visitorCommon9–10 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.19% in May
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentCommon41–52 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Jan–Aug · 0.17% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.16% in May
CootFulica atraSummer visitorUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.14% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusSummer visitorCommon24–33 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.13% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorCommon23–26 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.13% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaPassage migrantCommon10–12 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.11% in May
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusResidentCommon140–165 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.11% in May
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.11% in May
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantCommon58–70 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.10% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.10% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorUncommon50–90 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.10% in May
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusPassage migrantUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Dec–Jun · 0.10% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.09% in May
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantUncommon46–51 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentUncommonRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.08% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaSummer visitorCommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.08% in May
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaSummer visitorUncommon37–42 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.07% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.07% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.07% in May
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.06% in May
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentCommon58–77 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · records held back in May (protected)
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.05% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly May · 0.05% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentUncommon58–68 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Jan–Aug · 0.04% in May
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.03% in May
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantUncommon48–58 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentRare42–45 cmRegularly May · 0.03% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · records held back in May (protected)
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentUncommon34–39 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaPassage migrantUncommon55–65 cmRegularly Jan–May · 0.03% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRegularly May · 0.02% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentUncommon13–16 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.02% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.02% in May
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturScarceRare26–28 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusPassage migrantRare54–58 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.01% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataPassage migrantRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.01% in May
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