Birds to See in South Africa in December
106 bird species on our list for South Africa are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Egyptian Goose, Barn Swallow, Southern Masked Weaver, Fork-tailed Drongo and Helmeted Guineafowl. New this month: Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Pomarine Jaeger and Gull-billed Tern and 1 more.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
Leaving soon
From South Africa’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 106 birds in December
106 birds
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentCommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Dec
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.27% in Dec
Southern Masked WeaverPloceus velatusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Dec
Fork-tailed DrongoDicrurus adsimilisResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Dec
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentCommon53–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Dec
Cape SparrowPasser melanurusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Dec
Pied CrowCorvus albusResidentCommon46–52 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Dec
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Dec
Cape StarlingLamprotornis nitensResidentCommon25–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Dec
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Dec
Lesser Striped SwallowCecropis abyssinicaSummer visitorCommon15–19 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.49% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Dec
Spur-winged GoosePlectropterus gambensisResidentUncommon75–115 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Dec
BuzzardButeo buteoSummer visitorCommon51–57 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.44% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Dec
European Bee-eaterMerops apiasterSummer visitorUncommon27–29 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.41% in Dec
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioSummer visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.38% in Dec
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Dec
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentUncommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec
HoopoeUpupa epopsResidentCommon25–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentUncommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Dec
Magpie ShrikeUrolestes melanoleucusResidentUncommon35–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
African JacanaActophilornis africanusResidentUncommon23–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorUncommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentUncommon48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
Common OstrichStruthio camelusResidentUncommon210–275 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.20% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.18% in Dec
Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseusResidentUncommon120–145 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.16% in Dec
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.16% in Dec
Common TernSterna hirundoResidentUncommon31–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Purple HeronArdea purpureaResidentUncommon78–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
Little StintCalidris minutaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.15% in Dec
Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melbaResidentUncommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.14% in Dec
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentUncommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentUncommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Squacco HeronArdeola ralloidesResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
African Marsh HarrierCircus ranivorusResidentUncommon44–52 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.08% in Dec
RuffCalidris pugnaxSummer visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
SecretarybirdSagittarius serpentariusResidentUncommon112–150 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Lanner FalconFalco biarmicusResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Booted EagleHieraaetus pennatusResidentUncommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentUncommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentUncommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
African PenguinSpheniscus demersusResidentUncommon60–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Dec
Crowned EagleStephanoaetus coronatusResidentRare80–99 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolorResidentUncommon45–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusSummer visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Dec
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentRare33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Little BitternIxobrychus minutusResidentRare33–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorRare21–25 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Dec
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorRare37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentRare14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Pale-winged StarlingOnychognathus nabouroupResidentRare25–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorusSummer visitorRare52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Golden OrioleOriolus oriolusSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorRare41–46 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.02% in Dec
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorRare28–35 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Marsh WarblerAcrocephalus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentRare50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentRare50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
White-chinned PetrelProcellaria aequinoctialisResidentUncommon50–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
White-bellied BustardEupodotis senegalensisResidentRare48–61 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
African Pygmy-falconPolihierax semitorquatusResidentRare19–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusSummer visitorRare24–28 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosSummer visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorRare18–19 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusSummer visitorRare14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Dec
Sabine's GullXema sabiniSummer visitorRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorRare14–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargusSummer visitorRare43–47 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
WhitethroatCurruca communisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusSummer visitorRare40–45 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Damara TernSternula balaenarumSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Dec
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusPassage migrantRare12–13 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisResidentRare43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorRare32–34 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Sep–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorRare33–39 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
ChukarAlectoris chukarPassage migrantRare32–38 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaPassage migrantRare33–42 cmRegularly Dec · 0.00% in Dec
CorncrakeCrex crexPassage migrantRare22–30 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 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