Birds to See in Highland in May
161 bird species on our list for Highland are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Chaffinch, Willow Warbler, Blackbird, Eurasian Oystercatcher and European Robin. New this month: Common Swift, Spotted Flycatcher, Sedge Warbler and Arctic Tern and 12 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Highland’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 161 birds in May
161 birds
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 3.76% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 3.52% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.82% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.57% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.37% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.35% in May
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.21% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in May
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.94% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusPassage migrantCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 1.84% in May
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.69% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.33% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.03% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.99% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.86% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.78% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.74% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.57% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.50% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.50% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.48% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.47% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.42% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaSummer visitorCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.37% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.35% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentUncommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.33% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.32% in May
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorCommon50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in May
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.27% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.27% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.21% in May
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.20% in May
Crested TitLophophanes cristatusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusSummer visitorUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.19% in May
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.18% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in May
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentUncommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.16% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorUncommon41–46 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.11% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentUncommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.09% in May
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorUncommon14–15 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.05% in May
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.05% in May
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentUncommon41–52 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
GadwallMareca streperaSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.04% in May
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusSummer visitorRare48–56 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.03% in May
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusSummer visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusSummer visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.03% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in May
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentRare16–19 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.02% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentRare28–32 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.02% in May
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.02% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly May · 0.02% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaWinter visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataSummer visitorRare41–49 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.01% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentRare12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jun · 0.01% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorRare21–25 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentRare30–36 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusPassage migrantUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Dec–May · 0.01% in May
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaWinter visitorUncommon51–58 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% 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