Birds to See in Australia in December
100 bird species on our list for Australia are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Australian Magpie, Rainbow Lorikeet, Willie Wagtail, Laughing Kookaburra and Galah.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecAt their peak
Sharp-tailed SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Aug–Apr
Curlew SandpiperBusiest month of the year · All year
SanderlingBusiest month of the year · All year
Pectoral SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Sep–Apr
King PenguinBusiest month of the year · Nov–Mar
Gentoo PenguinBusiest month of the year · Nov–Jan
Leaving soon
From Australia’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 100 birds in December
100 birds
Australian MagpieGymnorhina tibicenResidentCommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 2.60% in Dec
Rainbow LorikeetTrichoglossus moluccanusResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Dec
Willie WagtailRhipidura leucophrysResidentCommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Dec
Laughing KookaburraDacelo novaeguineaeResidentCommon41–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in Dec
GalahEolophus roseicapillaResidentCommon35–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Dec
Red WattlebirdAnthochaera carunculataResidentCommon33–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Dec
Australian RavenCorvus coronoidesResidentCommon46–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Dec
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Dec
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Dec
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentCommon110–142 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Dec
New Holland HoneyeaterPhylidonyris novaehollandiaeResidentCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Dec
Eastern Yellow RobinEopsaltria australisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Dec
Red-browed FinchNeochmia temporalisResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Dec
Little WattlebirdAnthochaera chrysopteraResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentUncommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Dec
Australian King-parrotAlisterus scapularisResidentUncommon40–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Dec
Whistling KiteHaliastur sphenurusResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Dec
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Dec
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentUncommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec- Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataSummer visitorUncommon17–22 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.20% in Dec
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentUncommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentUncommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentUncommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorUncommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec- Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentUncommon48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Australian HobbyFalco longipennisResidentUncommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
White-cheeked HoneyeaterPhylidonyris nigerResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
ApostlebirdStruthidea cinereaResidentUncommon29–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Yellow WattlebirdAnthochaera paradoxaResidentUncommon37–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentUncommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Blue-winged KookaburraDacelo leachiiResidentUncommon38–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
BrolgaAntigone rubicundaResidentUncommon100–140 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Purple-crowned LorikeetGlossopsitta porphyrocephalaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
EmuDromaius novaehollandiaeResidentUncommon150–190 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentUncommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
Metallic StarlingAplonis metallicaResidentUncommon22–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
CockatielNymphicus hollandicusResidentUncommon30–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentRare23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentRare40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Rose RobinPetroica roseaWinter visitorUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec- SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorRare18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorRare27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusSummer visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Dec
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorRare19–21 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentRare11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Mulga ParrotPsephotellus variusResidentUncommon27–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaResidentRare40–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec- Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosSummer visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Southern Royal AlbatrossDiomedea epomophoraResidentRare115–123 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Australian BustardArdeotis australisResidentRare100–140 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Little PenguinEudyptula minorResidentRare30–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec- King PenguinAptenodytes patagonicusSummer visitorRare70–100 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Western WattlebirdAnthochaera lunulataResidentRare33–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorRare41–46 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in Dec
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentRare53–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
White-chinned PetrelProcellaria aequinoctialisSummer visitorRare50–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Long-tailed FinchPoephila acuticaudaResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaResidentRare33–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentRare13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Wandering AlbatrossDiomedea exulansResidentRare107–135 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorRare46–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
RedthroatPyrrholaemus brunneusResidentRare12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Southern CassowaryCasuarius casuariusResidentRare127–170 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec- Gentoo PenguinPygoscelis papuaSummer visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaSummer visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Southern Rockhopper PenguinEudyptes chrysocomeSummer visitorRare45–58 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorRare14–17 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.00% in Dec
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusSummer visitorRare48–58 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiResidentRare33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Red JunglefowlGallus gallusResidentRare42–75 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Oriental Honey-buzzardPernis ptilorhynchusSummer visitorRare52–68 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.00% in Dec
Sarus CraneGrus antigoneResidentRare152–156 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Gouldian FinchChloebia gouldiaeWinter visitorRare13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Little StintCalidris minutaSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorRare28–35 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentRare100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
RuffCalidris pugnaxSummer visitorRare20–32 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentRare38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
RedshankTringa totanusPassage migrantRare27–29 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
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