Birds to See in Germany in December
175 bird species on our list for Germany are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Great Tit, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Carrion Crow and Mallard. New this month: Fulmar, Glaucous Gull and Pied Crow.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
From Germany’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 175 birds in December
175 birds
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 4.53% in Dec
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 4.11% in Dec
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 4.01% in Dec
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.98% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.95% in Dec
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.72% in Dec
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.64% in Dec
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.59% in Dec
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.48% in Dec
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.32% in Dec
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in Dec
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Dec
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in Dec
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Dec
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Dec
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaWinter visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Dec
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Dec
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Dec
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Dec
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Dec
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentCommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Dec
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Dec
Short-toed TreecreeperCerthia brachydactylaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Dec
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentCommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Dec
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 1.07% in Dec
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Dec
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Dec
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Dec
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Dec
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Dec
FieldfareTurdus pilarisResidentCommon22–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Dec
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Dec
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Dec
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Dec
PochardAythya ferinaResidentCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Dec
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Dec
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Dec
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Dec
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Dec
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorCommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.64% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Dec
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Dec
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Dec
Common GullLarus canusResidentUncommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Dec
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Dec
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisResidentUncommon52–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Dec
Crested TitLophophanes cristatusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Dec
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.35% in Dec
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.35% in Dec
Common CraneGrus grusResidentCommon100–130 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.33% in Dec
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentUncommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Dec
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Dec
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostrisWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.25% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Dec
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Dec
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentUncommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.22% in Dec
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
SmewMergellus albellusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.20% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.19% in Dec
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisWinter visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaResidentUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentUncommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentUncommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Northern GoshawkAstur gentilisResidentUncommon46–61 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentUncommon53–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.10% in Dec
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoSummer visitorCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Great Grey ShrikeLanius excubitorWinter visitorUncommon22–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaWinter visitorUncommon58–77 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in Dec
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaWinter visitorUncommon51–58 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.08% in Dec
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.07% in Dec
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaResidentUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentUncommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Dec
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Long-eared OwlAsio otusResidentUncommon35–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Dec
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Dec
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
RedshankTringa totanusSummer visitorUncommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusWinter visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.04% in Dec
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisWinter visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Dec
Bar-headed GooseAnser indicusResidentUncommon68–78 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Dec
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Dec
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisResidentRare69–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaResidentUncommon33–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentRare110–142 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentRare47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.02% in Dec
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Red-breasted GooseBranta ruficollisWinter visitorRare53–56 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Dec
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Dec
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesResidentRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentRare33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaSummer visitorUncommon42–45 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
RazorbillAlca tordaPassage migrantUncommon38–43 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Taiga Bean GooseAnser fabalisWinter visitorRare68–88 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentRare21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Cirl BuntingEmberiza cirlusResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Little EgretEgretta garzettaSummer visitorUncommon55–65 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Alpine ChoughPyrrhocorax graculusSummer visitorRare36–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Dec
Black GuillemotCepphus gryllePassage migrantUncommon30–32 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorRare45–50 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensResidentRare69–84 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.00% in Dec
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentRare66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Pied CrowCorvus albusScarceRare46–52 cmRegularly 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