Birds to See in United Arab Emirates in May
114 bird species on our list for United Arab Emirates are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are House Sparrow, Eurasian Collared Dove, Rock Dove, Rose-ringed Parakeet and Hoopoe. New this month: Marsh Warbler, Common Shelduck, Greater White-fronted Goose and Sedge Warbler and 2 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
At their peak
From United Arab Emirates’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 114 birds in May
114 birds
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 4.92% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 4.27% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 3.06% in May
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentCommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in May
HoopoeUpupa epopsResidentCommon25–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in May
Pallid SwiftApus pallidusWinter visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.56% in May
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataPassage migrantCommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.14% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in May
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentCommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in May
Marsh WarblerAcrocephalus palustrisPassage migrantCommon13–14 cmRegularly May–Jun · 1.05% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–May · 0.89% in May
Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseusResidentCommon120–145 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in May
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioPassage migrantCommon16–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.75% in May
Great Grey ShrikeLanius excubitorResidentCommon22–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.64% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in May
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
Squacco HeronArdeola ralloidesResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in May
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentCommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–May · 0.45% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
Little StintCalidris minutaWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturSummer visitorCommon26–28 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.42% in May
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchosPassage migrantUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.41% in May
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaWinter visitorCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.35% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.33% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in May
Purple HeronArdea purpureaResidentCommon78–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
Egyptian VultureNeophron percnopterusResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentCommon48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentUncommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Golden OrioleOriolus oriolusPassage migrantUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.27% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaWinter visitorCommon19–21 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.25% in May
Northern PintailAnas acutaResidentUncommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentUncommon32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorCommon38–44 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.21% in May
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentUncommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.19% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.19% in May
GreenshankTringa nebulariaResidentCommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Oriental Honey-buzzardPernis ptilorhynchusResidentUncommon52–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
European Bee-eaterMerops apiasterPassage migrantUncommon27–29 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.18% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in May
Little BitternIxobrychus minutusSummer visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.17% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.16% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in May
Rufous-tailed Rock-thrushMonticola saxatilisPassage migrantUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.16% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.16% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentUncommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsResidentUncommon21–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaResidentUncommon18–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentUncommon110–142 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.12% in May
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in May
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaResidentUncommon80–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.08% in May
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaResidentUncommon33–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaWinter visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisResidentUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in May
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorCommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorUncommon18–19 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.06% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusPassage migrantUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Mar–May · 0.06% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinPassage migrantUncommon14–15 cmRegularly May · 0.06% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenanthePassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaWinter visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusPassage migrantUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.05% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in May
Spotted CrakePorzana porzanaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in May
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in May
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Woodchat ShrikeLanius senatorPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Feb–May · 0.04% in May
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusWinter visitorRare86–230 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in May
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaWinter visitorUncommon53–57 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.04% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.03% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentUncommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolorResidentUncommon45–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in May
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.02% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaWinter visitorUncommon58–67 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactylaWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in May
Eurasian Stone-curlewBurhinus oedicnemusWinter visitorRare40–44 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.02% in May
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisWinter visitorRare53–63 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.02% in May
Bonelli's EagleAquila fasciataWinter visitorUncommon65–72 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in May
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantRare40–51 cmRegularly May · 0.01% in May
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorRare140–165 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisWinter visitorRare76–110 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in May
Hooded WheatearOenanthe monachaResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataWinter visitorRare11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentRare34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in May
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixWinter visitorRare16–18 cmRegularly Sep–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