Birds to See in Leinster in December
145 bird species on our list for Leinster are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are European Herring Gull, Hooded Crow, Magpie, European Robin and Woodpigeon. New this month: Fulmar, Red-billed Chough, Water Pipit and Surf Scoter and 1 more.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
From Leinster’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 145 birds in December
145 birds
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.63% in Dec
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 3.60% in Dec
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 3.31% in Dec
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.23% in Dec
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 3.10% in Dec
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 3.09% in Dec
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.98% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.70% in Dec
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.70% in Dec
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.42% in Dec
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in Dec
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Dec
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in Dec
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Dec
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.82% in Dec
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in Dec
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.64% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Dec
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Dec
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Dec
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Dec
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Dec
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Dec
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 1.20% in Dec
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Dec
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Dec
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Dec
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Dec
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Dec
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Dec
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Dec
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Dec
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Dec
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Dec
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Dec
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Dec
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Dec
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Dec
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Dec
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.64% in Dec
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Dec
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Dec
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Dec
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Dec
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Dec
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Dec
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Dec
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Dec
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentCommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.45% in Dec
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Dec
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.41% in Dec
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.35% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.34% in Dec
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Dec
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Dec
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorUncommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.32% in Dec
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.31% in Dec
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Dec
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentUncommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Dec
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Dec
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.22% in Dec
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.22% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentUncommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.18% in Dec
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentUncommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.11% in Dec
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.09% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.07% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Dec
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in Dec
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.05% in Dec
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentUncommon48–56 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.05% in Dec
Barn OwlTyto albaWinter visitorRare33–39 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentRare13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorUncommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.02% in Dec
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaWinter visitorRare51–58 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.02% in Dec
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly Nov–Dec · 0.02% in Dec
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisResidentRare52–68 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaResidentRare80–90 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.02% in Dec
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusPassage migrantUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentRare41–49 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in Dec
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Cattle EgretArdea ibisWinter visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorRare31–38 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorRare43–54 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.01% in Dec
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusWinter visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentUncommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentUncommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in Dec
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusWinter visitorUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisResidentRare13–14 cmRegularly Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Long-eared OwlAsio otusResidentRare35–40 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.01% in Dec
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentRare37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxSummer visitorUncommon39–43 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiScarceRare13–14 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in Dec
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.01% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantRare48–60 cmRegularly Dec · 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