Birds to See in Essex in December
148 bird species on our list for Essex are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Black-headed Gull, Magpie and Blue Tit. New this month: Smew, Velvet Scoter, European Shag and Pink-footed Goose and 3 more.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
Eurasian WigeonBusiest month of the year · Aug–May
RedwingBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Golden PloverBusiest month of the year · Jul–Apr
Black-necked GrebeBusiest month of the year · Sep–Mar
Hen HarrierBusiest month of the year · Oct–Jan
Greater White-fronted GooseBusiest month of the year · Nov–Mar
From Essex’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 148 birds in December
148 birds
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.78% in Dec
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.64% in Dec
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.64% in Dec
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in Dec
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.47% in Dec
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in Dec
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.24% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.09% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.07% in Dec
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Dec
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.82% in Dec
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Dec
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Dec
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Dec
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Dec
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Dec
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Dec- Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 1.45% in Dec
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Dec
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Dec
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Dec
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Dec
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Dec
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Dec
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Dec
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Dec
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Dec
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Dec
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Dec- RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.07% in Dec
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Dec
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisWinter visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Dec
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Dec
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Dec
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Dec
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentCommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Dec
PochardAythya ferinaResidentCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Dec
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.84% in Dec
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Dec
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Dec
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Dec
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.74% in Dec
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Dec
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Dec
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentCommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.69% in Dec
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Dec
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Dec
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Dec
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaWinter visitorCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Dec
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Dec
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Dec
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentCommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.60% in Dec
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Dec
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentCommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.51% in Dec- Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.49% in Dec
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Dec
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Dec
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusWinter visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.47% in Dec
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Dec
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.41% in Dec
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Dec
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Dec
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Dec
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Dec
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.20% in Dec
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentUncommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.18% in Dec
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec- Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.16% in Dec
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.15% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusPassage migrantUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.15% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.15% in Dec
SmewMergellus albellusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.15% in Dec
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.13% in Dec
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentUncommon53–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.12% in Dec- Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusPassage migrantUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.12% in Dec
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.11% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.11% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.10% in Dec
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisResidentUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec- Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.10% in Dec
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentCommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.09% in Dec
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisSummer visitorUncommon52–68 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.09% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.08% in Dec
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Dec
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaPassage migrantUncommon51–58 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.08% in Dec
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.06% in Dec
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraPassage migrantUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.05% in Dec
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.05% in Dec
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaSummer visitorUncommon80–90 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.05% in Dec
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorRare33–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.05% in Dec
GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorCommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorRare20–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisWinter visitorUncommon69–81 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.04% in Dec
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaPassage migrantUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.03% in Dec
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentUncommon110–142 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.03% in Dec
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaWinter visitorUncommon9–10 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Dec
European ShagGulosus aristotelisWinter visitorUncommon65–80 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentRare50–71 cmRegularly Jun–Jan · 0.02% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentRare37–41 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Dec
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisWinter visitorRare12–13 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusWinter visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesPassage migrantRare17–18 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 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