Birds to See in Scotland in May
204 bird species on our list for Scotland are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Blackbird, European Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Woodpigeon and Jackdaw. New this month: Common Swift, Arctic Tern, Spotted Flycatcher and Ruff and 20 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Scotland’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 204 birds in May
204 birds
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 3.56% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.46% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.83% in May
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.75% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.74% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.49% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.35% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.21% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.20% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 2.20% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.08% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in May
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.25% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.11% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in May
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.86% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.83% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.79% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.79% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.78% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.72% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.55% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorCommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.51% in May
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in May
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.46% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Common LoonGavia immerResidentUncommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorUncommon50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.37% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentUncommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in May
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.32% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.32% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.27% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentUncommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentUncommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in May
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.20% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.19% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.14% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.13% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.12% in May
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusSummer visitorUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in May
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in May
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentUncommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentUncommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusSummer visitorUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.06% in May
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentUncommon41–52 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaResidentUncommon51–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioSummer visitorRare16–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in May
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentRare16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusSummer visitorUncommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.04% in May
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.04% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaWinter visitorUncommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorRare14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in May
Crested TitLophophanes cristatusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
RuffCalidris pugnaxSummer visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.02% in May
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in May
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Marsh WarblerAcrocephalus palustrisSummer visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentRare30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorUncommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentRare41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaSummer visitorRare80–90 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorRare46–51 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in May
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaWinter visitorUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentRare38–42 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.01% in May
Subalpine WarblerCurruca cantillansPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.01% in May
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixSummer visitorRare16–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in May
WryneckJynx torquillaPassage migrantRare16–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in May
Northern GoshawkAstur gentilisRecords withheldRare46–61 cmRegularly Feb–Aug · records held back in May (protected)
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxWinter visitorRare39–43 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.00% in May
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.00% in May
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentRare42–45 cmRegularly Mar–Jun · 0.00% in May
King EiderSomateria spectabilisSummer visitorRare46–64 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.00% in May
Golden OrioleOriolus oriolusPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.00% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorRare28–35 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
HoopoeUpupa epopsPassage migrantRare25–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in May
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantRare19–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisPassage migrantRare43–54 cmRegularly Jan–Jun · 0.00% in May
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturSummer visitorRare26–28 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in May
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaSummer visitorRare58–70 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in May
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusResidentRare29–31 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in May
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantRare28–38 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in May
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisPassage migrantRare16–20 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in May
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchosPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly May · 0.00% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in May
Willow TitPoecile montanusWinter visitorRare11–12 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