Birds to See in Wales in May
173 bird species on our list for Wales are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Blackbird, Carrion Crow, European Robin, Woodpigeon and Barn Swallow. New this month: Spotted Flycatcher, Little Stint, Roseate Tern and Nightjar and 7 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From Wales’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 173 birds in May
173 birds
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 3.58% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.98% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.76% in May
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.60% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.57% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.54% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.42% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.09% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.69% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.56% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.31% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.22% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.95% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.92% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.73% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.62% in May
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in May
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxSummer visitorCommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.60% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in May
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.54% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.54% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.52% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.45% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in May
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.36% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.36% in May
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.35% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.30% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.29% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.26% in May
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.26% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.21% in May
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in May
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentUncommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in May
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.14% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentUncommon30–32 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.13% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentUncommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentUncommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.11% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentUncommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.08% in May
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisResidentUncommon69–81 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.07% in May
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentUncommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentUncommon42–45 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.06% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusResidentUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Water RailRallus aquaticusWinter visitorCommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in May
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaSummer visitorUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in May
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentRare44–51 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.04% in May
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusSummer visitorUncommon24–28 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.04% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisResidentUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in May
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusSummer visitorUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in May
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentRare11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.02% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorUncommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in May
Little OwlAthene noctuaSummer visitorRare21–23 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.02% in May
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaResidentUncommon80–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
Northern GoshawkAstur gentilisRecords withheldRare46–61 cmRegularly Feb–Aug · records held back in May (protected)
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in May
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaWinter visitorUncommon9–10 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in May
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentRare13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in May
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturPassage migrantRare26–28 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Purple HeronArdea purpureaScarceRare78–90 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantRare22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in May
Woodchat ShrikeLanius senatorPassage migrantRare17–19 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Jan–Aug · 0.00% in May
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantRare19–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in May
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisScarceRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · records held back in May (protected)
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusPassage migrantRare10–11 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 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