Birds to See in Kent in December
164 bird species on our list for Kent are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Carrion Crow, European Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon and Magpie. New this month: Tundra Bean Goose and Black Swan.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecAt their peak
From Kent’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 164 birds in December
164 birds
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.95% in Dec
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.93% in Dec
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.83% in Dec
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.80% in Dec
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.78% in Dec
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.61% in Dec
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.60% in Dec
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.11% in Dec
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.85% in Dec
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Dec
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Dec
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in Dec
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Dec
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Dec
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Dec
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in Dec
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Dec
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Dec
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Dec
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Dec
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Dec
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Dec
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Dec
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Dec
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Dec
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Dec
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.02% in Dec
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Dec
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Dec
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.91% in Dec
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Dec
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Dec
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Dec
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Dec
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.77% in Dec
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentCommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.75% in Dec
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Dec
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Dec
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Dec
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Dec
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaWinter visitorCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Dec
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Dec
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Dec
Northern GannetMorus bassanusResidentCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Dec
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Dec
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Dec
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Dec
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentCommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Dec
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Dec
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Dec
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentUncommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Dec
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentCommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Dec
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.45% in Dec
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Dec
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Dec
PochardAythya ferinaResidentCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Dec
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Dec
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentUncommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Dec
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Dec
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Dec
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Dec
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.29% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Dec
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Dec
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.28% in Dec
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaWinter visitorUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Dec
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Dec
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentUncommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Dec
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Dec
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.25% in Dec
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentCommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.23% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.22% in Dec
European ShagGulosus aristotelisWinter visitorUncommon65–80 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.21% in Dec
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusSummer visitorCommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.19% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.18% in Dec
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusPassage migrantUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Sep–Jan · 0.17% in Dec
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.15% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.14% in Dec
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisResidentUncommon52–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.12% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.12% in Dec
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaPassage migrantUncommon50–58 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.11% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.11% in Dec
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaWinter visitorUncommon58–77 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.11% in Dec
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.10% in Dec
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.10% in Dec
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.09% in Dec
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.08% in Dec
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.07% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.07% in Dec
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaPassage migrantUncommon51–58 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Dec
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.07% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisPassage migrantUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.05% in Dec
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisWinter visitorUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaSummer visitorUncommon80–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorUncommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.04% in Dec
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.04% in Dec
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisSummer visitorUncommon69–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostrisPassage migrantRare66–84 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.03% in Dec
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusWinter visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.03% in Dec
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusWinter visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorRare39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorRare31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Dec
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.02% in Dec
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusWinter visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Black SwanCygnus atratusWinter visitorRare110–142 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in Dec
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorRare17–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Dec
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantRare15–16 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