Birds to See in Shetland Islands in May
144 bird species on our list for Shetland Islands are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Common Starling, Eurasian Oystercatcher, European Herring Gull, Fulmar and House Sparrow. New this month: Arctic Tern, Sanderling, Common Tern and Garden Warbler and 37 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Shetland 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 144 birds in May
144 birds
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.36% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 3.28% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.84% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 2.69% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in May
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.32% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 2.29% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 2.25% in May
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.24% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 2.21% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.15% in May
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorCommon50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.12% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorCommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Aug · 2.11% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.02% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in May
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in May
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.56% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusResidentCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.29% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.22% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.20% in May
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.09% in May
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.08% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in May
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in May
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in May
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusSummer visitorCommon40–42 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.88% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorCommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.80% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.76% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.72% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.67% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.67% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.65% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.62% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.60% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataPassage migrantCommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.57% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.49% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.48% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.45% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.44% in May
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.43% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.42% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneSummer visitorUncommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioPassage migrantUncommon16–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.34% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.32% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.32% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.30% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.30% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentUncommon58–67 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.28% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusSummer visitorUncommon32–39 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.26% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosWinter visitorCommon20–23 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.25% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsWinter visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.24% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.24% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.24% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.23% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaPassage migrantUncommon13–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.19% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.18% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorCommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.18% in May
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusPassage migrantUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaPassage migrantUncommon15–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorUncommon32–34 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.14% in May
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.14% in May
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisResidentUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.13% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.12% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusPassage migrantCommon9–10 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaPassage migrantUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaWinter visitorCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusSummer visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.09% in May
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorUncommon50–90 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.09% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusPassage migrantUncommon13–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentUncommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in May
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesPassage migrantUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in May
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.08% in May
Subalpine WarblerCurruca cantillansPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.08% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisPassage migrantUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.07% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.07% in May
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.07% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentUncommon58–68 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.06% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusWinter visitorUncommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusPassage migrantUncommon48–56 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in May
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in May
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorCommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.05% in May
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaSummer visitorUncommon37–42 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.05% in May
WryneckJynx torquillaPassage migrantUncommon16–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentRare46–56 cmRegularly May · 0.05% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentUncommon34–39 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in May
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantUncommon48–58 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.04% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.04% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaPassage migrantUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.04% in May
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixPassage migrantUncommon16–18 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.03% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly May · 0.03% in May
HoopoeUpupa epopsPassage migrantRare25–32 cmRegularly May · 0.03% in May
Golden OrioleOriolus oriolusPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.03% in May
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaPassage migrantUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.03% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.02% in May
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturPassage migrantRare26–28 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusPassage migrantUncommon54–58 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.02% in May
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorRare36–41 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.02% in May
CootFulica atraWinter visitorUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · records held back in May (protected)
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchosPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusResidentRare29–31 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusWinter visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentRare16–17 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 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