Birds to See in Ireland in December
157 bird species on our list for Ireland are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Hooded Crow, European Herring Gull, European Robin, Black-headed Gull and Blackbird. New this month: Fulmar and Water Pipit.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecAt their peak
From Ireland’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 157 birds in December
157 birds
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 3.37% in Dec
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.27% in Dec
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.08% in Dec
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 3.04% in Dec
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.78% in Dec
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.74% in Dec
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.52% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in Dec
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in Dec
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in Dec
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.28% in Dec
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 2.02% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Dec
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Dec
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Dec
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Dec
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Dec
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Dec
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Dec
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Dec
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Dec
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Dec
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.43% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in Dec
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Dec
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 1.17% in Dec
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 1.07% in Dec
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Dec
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Dec
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Dec
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Dec
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Dec
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Dec
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Dec
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Dec
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Dec
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.83% in Dec
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.83% in Dec
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Dec
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Dec
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.72% in Dec
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Dec
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Dec
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Dec
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Dec
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Dec
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Dec
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Dec
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Dec
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.48% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Dec
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Dec
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Dec
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorUncommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.44% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Dec
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorCommon26–29 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.41% in Dec
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Dec
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentCommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Dec
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Dec
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.35% in Dec
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Dec
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Dec
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.29% in Dec
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Dec
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Dec
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentUncommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Dec
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.20% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.19% in Dec
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.19% in Dec
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentUncommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Dec
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.12% in Dec
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxSummer visitorUncommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.09% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in Dec
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Dec
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentUncommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.05% in Dec
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.05% in Dec
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentRare33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentUncommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaWinter visitorRare80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorRare31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaWinter visitorRare51–58 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentRare66–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusWinter visitorRare29–31 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentRare13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusWinter visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisResidentRare52–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentRare76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentUncommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaWinter visitorRare58–77 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Dec
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiPassage migrantRare53–76 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Cattle EgretArdea ibisWinter visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Dec
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusWinter visitorRare48–66 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.02% in Dec
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaResidentRare80–90 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.01% in Dec
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentRare41–49 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Dec
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisResidentRare13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.01% in Dec
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneWinter visitorRare45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensPassage migrantRare69–84 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentRare37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Black SwanCygnus atratusWinter visitorRare110–142 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.00% in Dec
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiScarceRare13–14 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.00% in Dec
Long-eared OwlAsio otusResidentRare35–40 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.00% in Dec
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 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