Birds to See in Japan in December
133 bird species on our list for Japan are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Pied Wagtail, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Carrion Crow, Coot and Great Cormorant. New this month: Common Redpoll, Yellow-browed Warbler, Little Stint and Ringed Plover and 1 more.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
From Japan’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 133 birds in December
133 birds
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 3.32% in Dec
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.99% in Dec
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.84% in Dec
CootFulica atraWinter visitorCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.73% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.72% in Dec
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 2.60% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 2.11% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.96% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Dec
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Dec
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Dec
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Dec
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorCommon40–47 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.36% in Dec
Dusky ThrushTurdus eunomusWinter visitorCommon23–25 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.34% in Dec
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Dec
Japanese WagtailMotacilla grandisResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Dec
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Dec
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusWinter visitorCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 1.01% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.01% in Dec
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorCommon38–44 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.86% in Dec
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Dec
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Dec
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaResidentCommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Dec
Blue Rock-thrushMonticola solitariusResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Dec
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.44% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Dec
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Dec
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentUncommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.36% in Dec
SmewMergellus albellusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.35% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.34% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.34% in Dec
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.33% in Dec
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentUncommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Dec
Red-flanked BluetailTarsiger cyanurusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Dec
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Dec
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.30% in Dec
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Dec
Black-tailed GullLarus crassirostrisSummer visitorCommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentCommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Dec
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaWinter visitorUncommon66–94 cmRegularly Aug–Feb · 0.25% in Dec
Vega GullLarus vegaeWinter visitorUncommon55–67 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.25% in Dec
Steller's Sea-eagleHaliaeetus pelagicusWinter visitorUncommon85–105 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.24% in Dec
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.24% in Dec
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.20% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.19% in Dec
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.19% in Dec
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusWinter visitorUncommon28–31 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.18% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.15% in Dec
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
RookCorvus frugilegusWinter visitorUncommon45–47 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.12% in Dec
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.12% in Dec
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Dec
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.10% in Dec
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaWinter visitorUncommon58–67 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.10% in Dec
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.09% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaWinter visitorUncommon80–90 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.09% in Dec
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.09% in Dec
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.09% in Dec
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.08% in Dec
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.08% in Dec
Taiga Bean GooseAnser fabalisWinter visitorUncommon68–88 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.08% in Dec
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentUncommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Dec
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorUncommon81–94 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Dec
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostrisWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Dec
CurlewNumenius arquataWinter visitorUncommon50–60 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.04% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorRare55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Dec
Common CraneGrus grusWinter visitorUncommon100–130 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorUncommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaWinter visitorRare42–45 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.03% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.03% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisWinter visitorUncommon21–23 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Dec
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorRare69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPassage migrantUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.02% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.02% in Dec
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Crested MynaAcridotheres cristatellusResidentRare24–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Dec
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaWinter visitorRare53–57 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Dec
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaResidentRare33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.01% in Dec
WryneckJynx torquillaResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorRare58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in Dec
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisResidentRare69–81 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.01% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Japanese WaxwingBombycilla japonicaWinter visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Dec
Purple HeronArdea purpureaSummer visitorRare78–90 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.01% in Dec
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaWinter visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Long-eared OwlAsio otusResidentRare35–40 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.01% in Dec
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaWinter visitorRare58–77 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.01% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.01% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserPassage migrantRare75–90 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusWinter visitorUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Dec
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusWinter visitorRare10–11 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Dec
GarganeySpatula querquedulaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in Dec
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusSummer visitorRare86–230 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.00% in Dec
Black SwanCygnus atratusPassage migrantRare110–142 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantRare13–15 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