Birds to See in Galway in December
118 bird species on our list for Galway are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are European Herring Gull, Hooded Crow, Black-headed Gull, Mallard and European Robin. New this month: Blackcap, Razorbill, Mediterranean Gull and Common Merganser and 3 more.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
Leaving soon
From Galway’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 118 birds in December
118 birds
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.05% in Dec
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 3.01% in Dec
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.84% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.52% in Dec
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in Dec
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 2.38% in Dec
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.32% in Dec
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.28% in Dec
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in Dec
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 2.15% in Dec
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in Dec
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in Dec
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in Dec
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 1.91% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Dec
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.71% in Dec
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Dec
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Dec
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Dec
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Dec
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.35% in Dec
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Dec
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Dec
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.28% in Dec
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Dec
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Dec
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Dec
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Dec
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Dec
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Dec
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Dec
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 1.05% in Dec
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Dec
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.87% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Dec
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Dec
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.76% in Dec
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.76% in Dec
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 0.75% in Dec
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Dec
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Dec
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Dec
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Dec
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Dec
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Dec
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.60% in Dec
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Dec
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Dec
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Dec
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.47% in Dec
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Dec
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Dec
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Dec
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Dec
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.38% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.36% in Dec
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Dec
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentUncommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Dec
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.32% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentUncommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.25% in Dec
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.24% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.23% in Dec
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxResidentUncommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaWinter visitorCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaWinter visitorUncommon80–104 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.19% in Dec
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.19% in Dec
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusWinter visitorUncommon48–56 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.19% in Dec
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaWinter visitorUncommon66–94 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.19% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserPassage migrantUncommon58–68 cmRegularly Dec · 0.18% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.18% in Dec
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.16% in Dec
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.15% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.14% in Dec
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.14% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.14% in Dec
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.13% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Water RailRallus aquaticusSummer visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.13% in Dec
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.12% in Dec
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Dec
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.09% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusPassage migrantUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.09% in Dec
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.09% in Dec
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentUncommon37–40 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.08% in Dec
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.07% in Dec
DipperCinclus cinclusWinter visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in Dec
Barn OwlTyto albaPassage migrantUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Jun–Jan · 0.05% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.03% in Dec
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.03% 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