Birds to See in Cork in December
108 bird species on our list for Cork are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Black-headed Gull, Curlew, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Grey Heron and Redshank. New this month: Stock Dove, Dipper and Pink-footed Goose.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
From Cork’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 108 birds in December
108 birds
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 4.09% in Dec
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 3.14% in Dec
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.98% in Dec
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 2.85% in Dec
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 2.84% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.81% in Dec
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.75% in Dec
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.55% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in Dec
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.36% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 2.27% in Dec
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.24% in Dec
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.24% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 2.22% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in Dec
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Dec
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Dec
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Dec
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Dec
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Dec
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 1.73% in Dec
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.58% in Dec
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Dec
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisWinter visitorCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Dec
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Dec
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Dec
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Dec
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Dec
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRegularly Jun–Feb · 1.19% in Dec
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Dec
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.13% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.12% in Dec
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Dec
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.99% in Dec
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Dec
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Dec
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.75% in Dec
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Dec
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusWinter visitorCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Dec
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Dec
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.63% in Dec
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Dec
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.62% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Dec
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Dec
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Dec
Northern GannetMorus bassanusResidentCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Dec
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.54% in Dec
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Dec
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusWinter visitorCommon37–40 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.52% in Dec
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.49% in Dec
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Dec
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.43% in Dec
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Dec
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Dec
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaWinter visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Dec
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Dec
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxResidentCommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Dec
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.29% in Dec
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Dec
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.28% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.28% in Dec
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorUncommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.25% in Dec
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.23% in Dec
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.22% in Dec
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.22% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaPassage migrantUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.22% in Dec
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.21% in Dec
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentUncommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.15% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.13% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.11% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Dec
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.10% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserSummer visitorUncommon75–90 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.10% in Dec
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusPassage migrantUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.10% in Dec
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.08% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.08% in Dec
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisWinter visitorUncommon52–68 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.06% in Dec
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.04% in Dec
Stock DoveColumba oenasSummer visitorUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.04% in Dec
Barn OwlTyto albaPassage migrantUncommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Dec · 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