Birds to See in Fife in May
147 bird species on our list for Fife are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are European Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Barn Swallow and Blackbird. New this month: Common Swift, Little Gull, Barnacle Goose and Red Knot and 11 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Fife’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 147 birds in May
147 birds
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.15% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.98% in May
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.81% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.62% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.50% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.49% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.65% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.51% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.43% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.32% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.14% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 1.04% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.03% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.90% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in May
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.79% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.74% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.73% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in May
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.61% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaWinter visitorCommon51–58 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.54% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorCommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.49% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.42% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.35% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.34% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.30% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinPassage migrantUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.24% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.22% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.19% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.19% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.17% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.16% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.15% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.15% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.14% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisSummer visitorUncommon76–110 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.14% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.12% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusSummer visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.09% in May
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentUncommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantUncommon37–41 cmRegularly May · 0.08% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusPassage migrantUncommon48–56 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.08% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorCommon25–30 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.07% in May
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioPassage migrantUncommon16–18 cmRegularly May · 0.07% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.06% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.06% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentUncommon30–36 cmRegularly Jan–Jun · 0.05% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.05% in May
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRegularly Jan–May · 0.04% in May
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.04% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in May
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusPassage migrantUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · records held back in May (protected)
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.04% in May
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentUncommon66–94 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · records held back in May (protected)
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantUncommon58–70 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.03% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in May
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaScarceRare13–14 cmRegularly May · 0.02% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.02% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly May · 0.02% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoSummer visitorUncommon37–43 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.02% in May
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in May
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Feb–May · 0.01% in May
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · records held back in May (protected)
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 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