Birds to See in Ontario in December
111 bird species on our list for Ontario are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, American Crow, Northern Cardinal, Downy Woodpecker and White-breasted Nuthatch.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecAt their peak
American Herring GullBusiest month of the year · All year
Eastern Screech-owlBusiest month of the year · All year
Lesser Black-backed GullBusiest month of the year · All year
King EiderBusiest month of the year · Nov–Apr
KittiwakeBusiest month of the year · May
Varied ThrushBusiest month of the year · Nov–Mar
From Ontario’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 111 birds in December
111 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.40% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 4.22% in Dec
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.98% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 3.81% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.51% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.44% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 3.18% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 3.16% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 2.66% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in Dec- American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.30% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.10% in Dec
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.99% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.78% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Dec
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Dec
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.27% in Dec
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.98% in Dec
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Dec
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorCommon64–79 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.64% in Dec
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorCommon39–56 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.57% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Dec
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Dec
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.51% in Dec
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.35% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.31% in Dec
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.31% in Dec
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.29% in Dec
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.28% in Dec
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorUncommon52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.24% in Dec
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusSummer visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.20% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentUncommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.18% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.18% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec- Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.14% in Dec
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentUncommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.13% in Dec
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Dec
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.13% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.13% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.10% in Dec
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.10% in Dec
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.10% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.09% in Dec
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.08% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in Dec
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.05% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Dec
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentRare25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Long-eared OwlAsio otusWinter visitorRare35–40 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Dec- King EiderSomateria spectabilisWinter visitorRare46–64 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.02% in Dec
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaPassage migrantRare58–74 cmRegularly Jun–Jan · 0.02% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec- KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorRare37–41 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Dec
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.01% in Dec- Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusWinter visitorRare20–26 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorRare16–26 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.01% in Dec
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Sep–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in Dec
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisWinter visitorRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentRare36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusWinter visitorRare21–28 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.00% in Dec
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Sep–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