Birds to See in Iran in December
173 bird species on our list for Iran are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Pied Wagtail, House Sparrow, Magpie, Hooded Crow and Rock Dove. New this month: Hoopoe, Sand Martin, Osprey and Egyptian Vulture and 9 more.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
From Iran’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 December
173 birds
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 3.30% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.19% in Dec
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 3.13% in Dec
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 3.07% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.73% in Dec
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsWinter visitorCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in Dec
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaWinter visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Dec
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.75% in Dec
European RobinErithacus rubeculaWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 1.74% in Dec
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Dec
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Dec
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Dec
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentCommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Dec
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaWinter visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Dec
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Dec
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Dec
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.85% in Dec
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosWinter visitorCommon20–23 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.76% in Dec
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Dec
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaWinter visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.72% in Dec
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Dec
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.71% in Dec
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Dec
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisWinter visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.63% in Dec
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Dec
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.57% in Dec
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Dec
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaWinter visitorCommon66–94 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.56% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorCommon75–90 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.56% in Dec
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Dec
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Dec
GreenfinchChloris chlorisWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Dec
PochardAythya ferinaResidentCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Dec
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Dec
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.42% in Dec
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.41% in Dec
Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseusResidentCommon120–145 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Dec
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Dec
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Dec
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorCommon41–52 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.39% in Dec
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentCommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Dec
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosResidentCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Dec
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Dec
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusWinter visitorCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Dec
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.37% in Dec
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentCommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaWinter visitorCommon58–67 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.35% in Dec
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Dec
BuzzardButeo buteoWinter visitorCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentCommon32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Dec
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.32% in Dec
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.31% in Dec
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
DunnockPrunella modularisWinter visitorUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.30% in Dec
Little StintCalidris minutaResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Dec
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Dec
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Dec
CurlewNumenius arquataWinter visitorCommon50–60 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.28% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.26% in Dec
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Dec
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Dec
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaWinter visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.26% in Dec
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Dec
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxResidentCommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.24% in Dec
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
Great Grey ShrikeLanius excubitorResidentUncommon22–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaWinter visitorUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.22% in Dec
Oriental Honey-buzzardPernis ptilorhynchusWinter visitorCommon52–68 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.22% in Dec
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorUncommon20–24 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.21% in Dec
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.21% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.20% in Dec
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
Pallid SwiftApus pallidusWinter visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.19% in Dec
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaWinter visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.19% in Dec
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaResidentCommon33–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Moustached WarblerAcrocephalus melanopogonResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentUncommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusWinter visitorCommon40–45 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.17% in Dec
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaResidentUncommon80–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Desert FinchRhodospiza obsoletaResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Water RailRallus aquaticusWinter visitorUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.16% in Dec
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentUncommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.15% in Dec
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.14% in Dec
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorUncommon9–10 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.14% in Dec
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorUncommon40–47 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.14% in Dec
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.13% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorCommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentUncommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.11% in Dec
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaWinter visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.11% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.11% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.11% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
HoopoeUpupa epopsSummer visitorCommon25–32 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.10% in Dec
OspreyPandion haliaetusWinter visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.10% in Dec
Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactylaWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.10% in Dec
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in Dec
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisWinter visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.09% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusPassage migrantUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.09% in Dec
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.09% in Dec
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaWinter visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Dec
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.08% in Dec
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusSummer visitorUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Little TernSternula albifronsResidentUncommon21–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentUncommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Squacco HeronArdeola ralloidesSummer visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Egyptian VultureNeophron percnopterusSummer visitorUncommon55–65 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.07% in Dec
Long-eared OwlAsio otusResidentUncommon35–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusSummer visitorCommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorCommon19–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.06% in Dec
Cinereous VultureAegypius monachusWinter visitorUncommon98–120 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisSummer visitorUncommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.06% in Dec
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.06% in Dec
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusWinter visitorUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.06% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
DipperCinclus cinclusSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Hooded WheatearOenanthe monachaWinter visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in Dec
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusWinter visitorUncommon10–11 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.06% in Dec
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentUncommon53–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.05% in Dec
Common CraneGrus grusPassage migrantCommon100–130 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Dec
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorRare33–38 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.05% in Dec
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargusSummer visitorUncommon43–47 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.05% in Dec
Blue Rock-thrushMonticola solitariusResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisWinter visitorUncommon69–81 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorRare52–58 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.04% in Dec
Griffon VultureGyps fulvusSummer visitorUncommon93–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaPassage migrantUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in Dec
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusWinter visitorUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Dec
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.04% in Dec
GarganeySpatula querquedulaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.04% in Dec
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jun–Jan · 0.04% in Dec
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.03% in Dec
Spotted OwletAthene bramaWinter visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
WoodlarkLullula arboreaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.03% in Dec
Northern GoshawkAstur gentilisPassage migrantUncommon46–61 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.03% in Dec
Bonelli's EagleAquila fasciataWinter visitorUncommon65–72 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.02% in Dec
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly Dec · 0.02% in Dec
Spotted CrakePorzana porzanaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Tawny OwlStrix alucoPassage migrantUncommon37–43 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataPassage migrantRare41–49 cmRegularly Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Alpine ChoughPyrrhocorax graculusSummer visitorUncommon36–39 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.01% 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