Birds to See in Orkney Islands in May
121 bird species on our list for Orkney Islands are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Eurasian Oystercatcher, Common Starling, Curlew, Fulmar and Black-headed Gull. New this month: Arctic Tern, Sedge Warbler, Red Knot and Ruff and 18 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Orkney Islands’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 121 birds in May
121 birds
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 3.73% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.00% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 2.61% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 2.59% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.48% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 2.38% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.28% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 2.24% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.22% in May
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in May
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 2.20% in May
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorCommon50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.14% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorCommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.90% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.67% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 1.66% in May
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaSummer visitorCommon31–34 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 1.59% in May
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaSummer visitorCommon24–25 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 1.44% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.33% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.28% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesSummer visitorCommon9–10 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 1.19% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.17% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 1.13% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.08% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.04% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.93% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorCommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.89% in May
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.86% in May
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusSummer visitorCommon40–42 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.84% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaSummer visitorCommon58–67 cmRegularly Mar–Jul · 0.82% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusSummer visitorCommon45–47 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.82% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorCommon50–90 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.79% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.76% in May
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.75% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaSummer visitorCommon34–39 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.73% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaSummer visitorCommon16–22 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.68% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.66% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataSummer visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.66% in May
CootFulica atraSummer visitorCommon36–42 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.61% in May
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.61% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.60% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.58% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusSummer visitorCommon34–43 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.51% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.51% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneSummer visitorCommon45–47 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.50% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.50% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoSummer visitorCommon30–32 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.49% in May
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.47% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.47% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.46% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.44% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaPassage migrantCommon10–12 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.40% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.40% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.40% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.39% in May
GadwallMareca streperaPassage migrantCommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.37% in May
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.37% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.35% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusPassage migrantUncommon32–34 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.33% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusSummer visitorUncommon32–39 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.31% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.29% in May
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaSummer visitorCommon26–29 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.28% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.28% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.27% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorCommon40–44 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.26% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.26% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosPassage migrantCommon20–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.26% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsPassage migrantCommon14–16 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.26% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.26% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinPassage migrantUncommon14–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.25% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.23% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.22% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorCommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.22% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.21% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.20% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.18% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.16% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantUncommon37–41 cmRegularly May · 0.16% in May
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantCommon24–33 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.13% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoSummer visitorCommon51–57 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.10% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaPassage migrantCommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.10% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in May
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantCommon60–75 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.09% in May
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusSummer visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in May
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.08% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantCommon20–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentUncommon17–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in May
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusSummer visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in May
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaPassage migrantUncommon13–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in May
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in May
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusPassage migrantUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in May
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentCommon31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · records held back in May (protected)
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusPassage migrantUncommon54–58 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.04% in May
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentCommon58–77 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · records held back in May (protected)
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaSummer visitorUncommon37–42 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusPassage migrantUncommon48–56 cmRegularly May · 0.03% in May
Little AukAlle alleScarceUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 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