Birds to See in Tanzania in December
98 bird species on our list for Tanzania are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Helmeted Guineafowl, Fork-tailed Drongo, Pied Crow, Egyptian Goose and Barn Swallow. New this month: Sedge Warbler, Curlew, Garganey and Roseate Tern.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
From Tanzania’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 98 birds in December
98 birds
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentCommon53–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Dec
Fork-tailed DrongoDicrurus adsimilisResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Dec
Pied CrowCorvus albusResidentCommon46–52 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Dec
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentCommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Dec
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.65% in Dec
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Dec
Lesser Striped SwallowCecropis abyssinicaResidentCommon15–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Dec
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.49% in Dec
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Dec
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
Common OstrichStruthio camelusResidentCommon210–275 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Dec
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.35% in Dec
Magpie ShrikeUrolestes melanoleucusResidentCommon35–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Dec
SecretarybirdSagittarius serpentariusResidentUncommon112–150 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Dec
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.30% in Dec
Blue-naped MousebirdUrocolius macrourusResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Dec
Little StintCalidris minutaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.27% in Dec
Purple GrenadierGranatina ianthinogasterResidentUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.25% in Dec
GreenshankTringa nebulariaResidentUncommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.23% in Dec
RuffCalidris pugnaxSummer visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.23% in Dec
White-bellied BustardEupodotis senegalensisResidentUncommon48–61 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
African JacanaActophilornis africanusResidentUncommon23–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseusResidentUncommon120–145 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
European Bee-eaterMerops apiasterSummer visitorCommon27–29 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.22% in Dec
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.21% in Dec
HoopoeUpupa epopsResidentUncommon25–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
Red-and-yellow BarbetTrachyphonus erythrocephalusResidentUncommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.20% in Dec
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorUncommon33–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentUncommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioSummer visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.18% in Dec
BuzzardButeo buteoSummer visitorUncommon51–57 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.17% in Dec
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentUncommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
African Pygmy-falconPolihierax semitorquatusResidentUncommon19–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
Spur-winged GoosePlectropterus gambensisResidentUncommon75–115 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentUncommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.14% in Dec
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentUncommon48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.11% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.11% in Dec
Golden OrioleOriolus oriolusSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Dec
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentUncommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.09% in Dec
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentUncommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Squacco HeronArdeola ralloidesResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Crowned EagleStephanoaetus coronatusResidentUncommon80–99 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargusSummer visitorUncommon43–47 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Dec
Rufous-tailed Rock-thrushMonticola saxatilisSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Dec
Lanner FalconFalco biarmicusResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in Dec
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusSummer visitorUncommon48–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Dec
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.06% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentUncommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.06% in Dec
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Dec
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Purple HeronArdea purpureaResidentUncommon78–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Dec
Booted EagleHieraaetus pennatusSummer visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Dec
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
African Marsh HarrierCircus ranivorusResidentUncommon44–52 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.04% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentRare34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Marsh WarblerAcrocephalus palustrisSummer visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentUncommon54–58 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melbaResidentUncommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorusSummer visitorRare52–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorRare18–20 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolorResidentUncommon45–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Dec
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixResidentUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.02% in Dec
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchosSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Little WeaverPloceus luteolusSummer visitorRare11–12 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusPassage migrantRare12–13 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoSummer visitorRare25–27 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
CurlewNumenius arquataPassage migrantRare50–60 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorRare14–17 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusPassage migrantRare38–44 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Little BitternIxobrychus minutusSummer visitorRare33–38 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in Dec
NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusSummer visitorRare24–28 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiPassage migrantRare33–41 cmRegularly Jul–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Egyptian VultureNeophron percnopterusPassage migrantRare55–65 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Dec · 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