Birds to See in North Yorkshire in December
139 species matching this filter.
North Yorkshire offers a rich and varied birdwatching experience in December, with around 139 species recorded across its diverse landscapes of moorland, wetlands, coastline and river valleys. Winter visitors such as Brambling and Goldeneye join resident species like Grey Heron, Coot and Jackdaw, while scarcer sightings of Hen Harrier and Great White Egret add excitement for keen birders. The county's reservoirs, estuaries and sheltered woodlands provide vital refuges for birds during the coldest months of the year.
Resident
(118)
Atlantic Puffin
Fratercula arcticaVU
A rare but charismatic resident, best seen at Bempton Cliffs and Flamborough Head during the spring and summer breeding season.
Mar–Dec
Bar-tailed Godwit
Limosa lapponicaNT
Found on the coast, particularly the Tees estuary and Filey, with numbers peaking during autumn passage and winter months.
Jul–May
Barn Owl
Tyto albaLC
An uncommon resident of farmland and field margins, often glimpsed at dusk quartering rough grassland for voles across the Vales.
Year-round
Barnacle Goose
Branta leucopsisLC
Present year-round but rare, with a mix of feral birds and genuine wild vagrants. Found on grassland and wetland margins.
Year-round
Black Swan
Cygnus atratusLC
A rare and exotic sight, likely originating from ornamental collections. Occasionally turns up on lakes and rivers across the region.
Nov–Sep
Blackbird
Turdus merulaLC
One of the most widespread residents, found in gardens, woodland and hedgerows year-round. Continental migrants boost numbers in autumn.
Year-round
Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleusLC
A common and familiar garden resident year-round, also thriving in woodland and hedgerows across the county.
Year-round
Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhulaLC
An unobtrusive year-round resident of hedgerows and woodland edges, often detected by its soft, piping call.
Year-round
Buzzard
Buteo buteoLC
Now a common resident across the region, frequently seen soaring over farmland, moorland edges and the Yorkshire Dales.
Year-round
Canada Goose
Branta canadensisLC
Abundant year-round on lakes, rivers and gravel pits. A familiar and often bold presence in parks and urban waterways.
Year-round
Carrion Crow
Corvus coroneLC
Abundant and widespread year-round across farmland, towns and moorland fringes. One of the most familiar birds in the county.
Year-round
Cetti's Warbler
Cettia cettiLC
A rare but expanding resident of dense reedbed and waterside scrub, a relatively recent colonist of North Yorkshire wetlands.
Year-round
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebsLC
One of the region's most familiar residents, found in woodland, hedgerows and gardens year-round. Its cheerful song is a hallmark of spring.
Year-round
Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybitaLC
A common resident heard year-round in woodland and scrub, with numbers boosted by continental migrants in autumn.
Year-round
Coal Tit
Periparus aterLC
Resident in coniferous and mixed woodland throughout the year, readily visiting garden feeders in winter. Often joins roving tit flocks.
Year-round
Common Gull
Larus canusLC
A common year-round resident found on farmland, reservoirs, and the coast. Often nests on moorland edges in the Dales and North York Moors.
Year-round
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthisLC
An uncommon resident along clean rivers and streams, often glimpsed as a flash of electric blue over the water.
Year-round
Common Loon
Gavia immerLC
An uncommon visitor to coastal waters, mainly from October to May. Often seen singly, diving in sheltered bays along the Yorkshire coast.
Oct–May
Common Merganser
Mergus merganserLC
Resident on upland rivers and reservoirs throughout the Dales and moorland valleys. Often seen in small parties fishing along fast-flowing streams.
Year-round
Common Pheasant
Phasianus colchicusLC
Abundant year-round across farmland, moorland edges and estates, largely sustained by releases for shooting on the region's grouse moors and lowland shoots.
Year-round
Common Raven
Corvus coraxLC
A rare but increasing resident, favouring upland crags and moorland edges in the Dales and North York Moors.
Year-round
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammeaLC
A rare resident found in birch woodland and upland scrub. Numbers fluctuate with irruptive movements from the Continent in some winters.
Sep–Jul
Common Scoter
Melanitta nigraLC
Uncommon but present year-round offshore. Dark flocks can be spotted from coastal headlands, often flying low over the waves.
Year-round
Common Shelduck
Tadorna tadornaLC
Found year-round on estuaries, coastal mudflats and inland wetlands. Breeds in rabbit burrows and other cavities near water.
Year-round
Common Snipe
Gallinago gallinagoLC
An uncommon resident of moorland bogs and damp meadows, performing its distinctive 'drumming' display flight over the Dales and North York Moors in spring.
Year-round
Common Starling
Sturnus vulgarisLC
Common and widespread year-round, with spectacular winter murmurations at roost sites. Numbers have declined nationally but remain strong in North Yorkshire.
Year-round
Coot
Fulica atraLC
A common resident on lakes, reservoirs, and gravel pits across the region. Aggressive and conspicuous, with a distinctive white frontal shield.
Year-round
Curlew
Numenius arquataNT
A common resident breeding on moorland and farmland, with its evocative call defining the Dales landscape. A declining species of conservation concern.
Year-round
Dipper
Cinclus cinclusLC
A charismatic resident of fast-flowing rivers and becks in the Dales and North York Moors, bobbing on rocks year-round.
Year-round
Dunlin
Calidris alpinaLC
Present year-round, breeding on upland moors in summer and gathering on estuarine mudflats in winter. A small wader with a distinctive downcurved bill.
Year-round
Dunnock
Prunella modularisLC
A common and unobtrusive resident of hedgerows, gardens and scrub throughout the region. Its thin, warbling song is heard year-round.
Year-round
Eider
Somateria mollissimaNT
An uncommon year-round resident along the rocky Yorkshire coast. Breeds on sheltered stretches and forms rafts offshore in winter.
Year-round
Eurasian Collared Dove
Streptopelia decaoctoLC
A familiar resident of villages, farms and suburban gardens year-round. Its monotonous three-note cooing is a constant soundtrack in settled areas.
Year-round
Eurasian Jay
Garrulus glandariusLC
An uncommon but resident corvid of broadleaved woodland, often heard giving its harsh, screeching call in autumn.
Year-round
Eurasian Nuthatch
Sitta europaeaLC
Resident in mature deciduous woodland, climbing bark with distinctive jerky movements. Visits garden feeders, especially near wooded areas.
Year-round
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegusNT
Common year-round along the coast from Whitby to Filey and increasingly breeding inland on river shingle in the Dales.
Year-round
Eurasian Siskin
Spinus spinusLC
An uncommon resident found year-round in conifer plantations and alder-lined valleys. Often visits garden feeders in winter.
Year-round
Eurasian Skylark
Alauda arvensisLC
A common resident of open farmland and moorland, its soaring song flight a characteristic sound of the Yorkshire countryside.
Year-round
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Passer montanusLC
An uncommon year-round resident favouring farmyards and hedgerows, often in small flocks around arable land in the Vale of York.
Year-round
Eurasian Wigeon
Mareca penelopeLC
Present year-round on reservoirs, lakes and coastal wetlands. Numbers swell in winter with continental arrivals joining small resident populations.
Year-round
Eurasian Woodcock
Scolopax rusticolaLC
A secretive resident of damp woodland floors, most often glimpsed during its roding display flights at dusk in spring and summer.
Oct–Jun
Eurasian Wren
Troglodytes troglodytesLC
A common and widespread resident of hedgerows, gardens, and woodland, delivering its remarkably loud song throughout the year.
Year-round
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelisLC
A common and colourful resident, increasingly seen in gardens and on seed feeders. Sociable flocks gather on thistles and teasels in autumn and winter.
Year-round
European Green Woodpecker
Picus viridisLC
A scarce resident found in parkland and woodland edges, often heard giving its distinctive laughing call. Near its northern range limit here.
Year-round
European Herring Gull
Larus argentatusLC
A common and conspicuous resident, breeding on sea cliffs at Flamborough and Whitby and frequenting towns, harbours, and tips year-round.
Year-round
European Robin
Erithacus rubeculaLC
A familiar year-round resident of gardens, hedgerows and woodlands across North Yorkshire, singing even through the winter months.
Year-round
European Shag
Phalacrocorax aristotelisLC
An uncommon resident of rocky coastlines, breeding on cliffs at Flamborough and Staithes. Stays closer inshore than its cormorant cousin.
Year-round
Fieldfare
Turdus pilarisLC
A winter thrush arriving from Scandinavia, present from October to April. Flocks roam farmland and hedgerows feeding on berries alongside Redwings.
Oct–May
Fulmar
Fulmarus glacialisLC
Nests on the dramatic sea cliffs at Bempton and Flamborough, present year-round and often seen gliding stiffly on outstretched wings.
Year-round
Gadwall
Mareca streperaLC
An uncommon year-round resident of lowland lakes and reservoirs. Quieter and less conspicuous than its close relative the Mallard.
Year-round
Goldcrest
Regulus regulusLC
Britain's smallest bird, resident year-round in coniferous and mixed woodland. High-pitched calls betray its presence in spruce plantations across the Dales and moors.
Year-round
Golden Plover
Pluvialis apricariaLC
Breeds on upland moorland in summer, then forms large flocks on lowland fields in winter. Its plaintive call is iconic across the Dales.
Year-round
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinusLC
Present year-round along the coast, this powerful gull frequents harbours, cliffs and estuaries, often dominating smaller species.
Year-round
Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carboLC
A common year-round resident found along the coast, rivers, and reservoirs. Often seen perched with wings outstretched to dry.
Year-round
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatusLC
An elegant resident of larger lakes and reservoirs, performing its elaborate courtship display in spring at sites across the region.
Year-round
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos majorLC
An uncommon but year-round resident of mature woodland, its loud drumming a familiar spring sound in North Yorkshire.
Year-round
Great Tit
Parus majorLC
A common garden and woodland resident year-round, readily visiting feeders and nesting in nest boxes.
Year-round
Great White Egret
Ardea albaLC
A rare but increasingly recorded resident at wetland sites, reflecting a national range expansion northwards into Yorkshire.
Year-round
Greenfinch
Chloris chlorisLC
An uncommon resident of gardens, hedgerows and farmland, declining due to disease. Year-round but less numerous than in previous decades.
Year-round
Grey Heron
Ardea cinereaLC
A common and familiar resident, found along rivers, reservoirs, and farmland ponds throughout the region. Nests colonially in tall trees.
Year-round
Grey Partridge
Perdix perdixLC
A declining resident of arable farmland and rough grassland. Once widespread, now rare due to agricultural intensification.
Year-round
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinereaLC
An elegant resident of fast-flowing streams and rivers across the Dales and moors. Bobs its long tail on rocks, sometimes visiting lowland areas in winter.
Year-round
Greylag Goose
Anser anserLC
A common year-round resident found on farmland, reservoirs and parkland lakes across the region. Feral and wild populations mix freely.
Year-round
House Sparrow
Passer domesticusLC
A common resident of towns, villages and farmsteads, though numbers have declined significantly since the 1970s.
Year-round
Jackdaw
Corvus monedulaLC
A common and sociable resident, nesting in old buildings, church towers and tree cavities across the region.
Year-round
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculusLC
A common resident often seen hovering over roadside verges and moorland edges while hunting for voles.
Year-round
Kittiwake
Rissa tridactylaVU
Nests in large colonies on coastal cliffs, notably at Bempton. Numbers are declining sharply due to food shortages, making it a conservation priority.
Year-round
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscusLC
An uncommon year-round resident, often seen at reservoirs, tips, and farmland. Smaller and darker-backed than the Herring Gull.
Year-round
Linnet
Linaria cannabinaLC
A common resident of gorse-covered moorland edges, farmland and rough ground. Forms sociable flocks outside the breeding season across open countryside.
Year-round
Little Egret
Egretta garzettaLC
An uncommon but increasing resident, favouring estuaries, rivers, and wetlands. A relatively recent coloniser of North Yorkshire.
Year-round
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollisLC
A shy, uncommon resident on ponds, lakes, and slow rivers. Its distinctive whinnying trill often reveals its presence before it is seen.
Year-round
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatusLC
Common year-round in hedgerows and woodland, often seen in lively, acrobatic flocks bouncing along branches. Visits garden feeders in winter.
Year-round
Magpie
Pica picaLC
A common and conspicuous resident of gardens, hedgerows, and farmland, seen throughout the region in all seasons.
Year-round
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
A common and familiar resident on virtually any body of water, from village ponds and park lakes to moorland reservoirs.
Year-round
Mandarin Duck
Aix galericulataLC
A rare but established resident of wooded rivers and lakes. Males are strikingly ornate, often seen around mature parkland.
Nov–Sep
Marsh Tit
Poecile palustrisLC
An uncommon resident of mature deciduous woodland, declining nationally but still found in parts of the Dales and Howardian Hills.
Year-round
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensisLC
A common resident of the moorlands and upland pastures, its thin piping call is the soundtrack of the Dales and North York Moors.
Year-round
Merlin
Falco columbariusLC
Breeds on remote moorland in the Dales and North York Moors, moving to lower ground and the coast in winter. A dashing, low-flying falcon.
Jul–Apr
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorusLC
Resident in parkland, orchards and open woodland, often singing boldly from treetops even in midwinter. Forms post-breeding flocks in autumn.
Year-round
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropusLC
A common resident found on ponds, rivers and wetlands throughout the region, often seen flicking its white undertail along waterside vegetation.
Year-round
Mute Swan
Cygnus olorLC
A familiar and elegant resident of rivers, canals and lakes throughout the region. Breeds widely and is present all year.
Year-round
Northern Gannet
Morus bassanusLC
Uncommon but seen year-round offshore, often visible from Flamborough Head. Spectacular plunge-diving can be watched from coastal vantage points.
Year-round
Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellusNT
A common year-round resident of farmland and moorland edges. Breeds on upland fields but flocks on lowland pastures in winter.
Year-round
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeataLC
An uncommon resident of shallow lakes and flooded fields. Numbers increase in winter as continental birds arrive.
Year-round
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinusLC
An uncommon year-round resident nesting on coastal cliffs and inland crags, sometimes hunting over towns and estuaries in winter.
Year-round
Pink-footed Goose
Anser brachyrhynchusLC
Winters in large skeins over the Vale of York, arriving from Iceland in autumn. Absent during summer breeding months.
Sep–May
Pochard
Aythya ferinaVU
Present year-round but declining nationally. Favours large lakes and reservoirs, with numbers boosted by winter visitors.
Year-round
Purple Sandpiper
Calidris maritimaLC
Frequents rocky shores and harbour walls along the coast, especially at Scarborough and Filey, mainly outside the brief breeding season.
Jul–May
Razorbill
Alca tordaLC
Breeds on the dramatic cliffs at Flamborough and Bempton, with large numbers present in spring and summer before dispersing offshore.
Year-round
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostraLC
A rare and nomadic resident of conifer plantations, with numbers varying greatly between years. Its distinctive crossed bill extracts seeds from spruce cones.
Year-round
Red Grouse
Lagopus lagopus scoticaLC
An iconic resident of the North York Moors and Dales heather moorland. Present all year, with numbers managed for grouse shooting.
Year-round
Red Kite
Milvus milvusLC
Now resident year-round following successful reintroduction at Harewood, increasingly seen soaring over the Dales and Vale of York.
Year-round
Red Knot
Calidris canutusNT
Uncommon but present year-round, gathering in flocks on the Tees estuary mudflats. Numbers peak in winter with arrivals from Arctic breeding grounds.
Year-round
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serratorLC
An uncommon resident favouring coastal waters and estuaries. Also breeds along upland rivers in the Dales and North York Moors.
Sep–Jul
Red-legged Partridge
Alectoris rufaNT
An uncommon resident of arable farmland in the Vale of York and lower dales, often seen in small coveys along field margins.
Year-round
Red-throated Loon
Gavia stellataLC
Present year-round, most often seen offshore in winter. Breeds on remote moorland pools and moves to coastal waters outside the season.
Year-round
Redshank
Tringa totanusLC
An uncommon year-round resident of coastal marshes and upland wet pastures, its piping alarm call a familiar sound on the region's estuaries.
Year-round
Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclusLC
A common resident of reedbeds, marshes and damp scrub across the region. Males show a distinctive black head in breeding plumage from spring.
Year-round
Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticulaLC
Present year-round on sandy and shingle beaches along the coast. Breeds on the shore in summer and joins estuarine flocks in winter.
Year-round
Rock Dove
Columba liviaLC
A common year-round resident in towns, cities, and along coastal cliffs. Feral populations thrive alongside truly wild cliff-nesting birds.
Year-round
Rock Pipit
Anthus petrosusLC
An uncommon resident found along the rocky coastline from Whitby to Scarborough, foraging among seaweed-strewn boulders year-round.
Year-round
Rook
Corvus frugilegusLC
A common resident forming noisy rookeries in tall trees across farmland; large flocks feed in ploughed fields year-round.
Year-round
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpresLC
Found year-round on rocky shorelines and harbours along the coast. Flips stones and seaweed to find invertebrates hidden beneath.
Year-round
Ruff
Philomachus pugnaxLC
A rare visitor to coastal marshes and freshwater pools, mainly on passage. Males in breeding plumage with elaborate ruffs are seldom seen here.
Aug–May
Sanderling
Calidris albaLC
Uncommon but present all year, racing along sandy beaches at Filey and Scarborough. Most conspicuous during spring and autumn passage.
Year-round
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelosLC
A common resident of gardens, hedgerows and woodland, often heard smashing snails on stones. Sings its repeated phrases from early spring through summer.
Year-round
Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisusLC
A year-round resident, hunting small birds through woodland edges, hedgerows and gardens across the county with dashing low-level flights.
Year-round
Stock Dove
Columba oenasLC
A resident breeder nesting in tree holes and old buildings across farmland and parkland. Quieter and less conspicuous than its woodpigeon cousin.
Year-round
Stonechat
Saxicola torquatusLC
Resident on gorse-clad moorland edges and coastal scrub year-round. Hardy enough to remain on upland territories through harsh winters.
Year-round
Tawny Owl
Strix alucoLC
A rare but resident owl of mature woodland, more often heard than seen; its hooting carries through the Dales on still nights.
Year-round
Treecreeper
Certhia familiarisLC
A quiet resident of mature woodland, spiralling mouse-like up tree trunks. Found year-round in deciduous and mixed woods throughout the region.
Year-round
Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligulaLC
A common diving duck found on lakes, reservoirs and gravel pits throughout the year. Often seen in tight rafts on open water.
Year-round
Water Rail
Rallus aquaticusLC
A secretive resident of reedbeds and marshy margins, more often heard squealing than seen. Sites like Lower Derwent Valley offer the best chances.
Jul–May
Western Marsh-harrier
Circus aeruginosusLC
A rare resident hunting over reedbeds and marshes, increasingly seen at lowland wetland reserves as the species recolonises northern England.
Year-round
Whooper Swan
Cygnus cygnusLC
Winters on lowland floodplains and lakes, arriving from Iceland in October. Bugling calls carry across the Vale of York.
Oct–May
Willow Tit
Poecile montanusLC
A rare and declining resident of damp woodland with standing deadwood; North Yorkshire holds some of England's last strongholds.
Aug–Jun
Woodpigeon
Columba palumbusLC
A common resident seen in farmland, woodlands, parks, and gardens throughout the county all year round.
Year-round
Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinellaLC
An uncommon resident of hedgerows and arable farmland, declining nationally. Its bright yellow head and jangling song enliven field margins year-round.
Year-round
Non-breeding
(19)
Arctic Loon
Gavia arcticaLC
A rare winter visitor to coastal waters, occasionally seen off Filey and Scarborough between October and February.
Oct–Feb
Black Redstart
Phoenicurus ochrurosLC
A rare non-breeding visitor, occasionally seen on coastal cliffs and industrial buildings. Most likely encountered during autumn passage and winter months.
Oct–Apr
Brambling
Fringilla montifringillaLC
A scarce winter visitor from Scandinavia, sometimes joining chaffinch flocks at woodland edges and beneath beech trees.
Sep–Apr
Brent Goose
Branta berniclaLC
A rare non-breeding visitor to the coast and estuaries, mainly seen from September to February. Prefers tidal mudflats.
Sep–Feb
Goldeneye
Bucephala clangulaLC
An uncommon winter visitor to reservoirs and rivers from October to April. Males are striking with their glossy green heads and bright golden eyes.
Oct–Apr
Greater Scaup
Aythya marilaLC
A rare winter visitor from October to March. Small numbers appear on coastal waters and occasionally on larger inland reservoirs.
Oct–Mar
Greater White-fronted Goose
Anser albifronsLC
A rare winter visitor to lowland fields and wetlands, occasionally joining flocks of other grey geese between December and March.
Dec–Mar
Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarolaLC
A rare non-breeding visitor to the coast from autumn to spring. Look for its stocky build and black axillaries in flight.
Aug–Mar
Hen Harrier
Circus cyaneusLC
A rare winter visitor to the moorlands and dales, occasionally quartering heather uplands from late autumn. A persecuted species still struggling in this region.
Nov–Feb
Horned Grebe
Podiceps auritusVU
A rare non-breeding visitor to sheltered coastal bays and reservoirs in winter, sometimes lingering into early spring.
Oct–Feb
Jack Snipe
Lymnocryptes minimusLC
A rare and secretive winter visitor from October to March. Favours boggy margins and wet meadows, flushing only at close range.
Oct–Mar
Long-tailed Duck
Clangula hyemalisVU
A rare winter visitor to coastal waters and occasionally inland reservoirs. Present from October to March in small numbers.
Oct–Mar
Northern Pintail
Anas acutaLC
A rare winter visitor to coastal estuaries and inland waters, arriving from September and departing by April. An elegant, long-necked dabbling duck.
Sep–Apr
Red-necked Grebe
Podiceps grisegenaLC
A rare non-breeding visitor, mainly seen on the coast in autumn and winter. Check sheltered bays and harbours carefully.
Sep–Mar
Redwing
Turdus iliacusNT
An uncommon winter visitor from Scandinavia, joining thrush flocks in hedgerows and berry-laden fields from October to April.
Sep–Apr
Snow Bunting
Plectrophenax nivalisLC
An uncommon winter visitor to high moorland tops and the coast from October to March. Breeds in the Arctic and favours exposed, windswept ground.
Oct–Mar
Twite
Linaria flavirostrisLC
A rare non-breeding visitor, mainly to coastal saltmarshes and moorland edges in winter. A declining upland finch closely associated with the Pennines.
Oct–Mar
Velvet Scoter
Melanitta fuscaVU
A rare non-breeding visitor to coastal waters, mainly seen from late autumn to early spring. Often found among Common Scoter flocks.
Aug–Mar
Yellow-legged Gull
Larus michahellisLC
A rare passage visitor in late summer, occasionally noted among large gull flocks at the coast or reservoirs in August and September.
Jul–Mar
Passage
(2)
Bohemian Waxwing
Bombycilla garrulusLC
An irruptive winter visitor from Scandinavia, appearing in some years in November and December. Flocks descend on berry-laden trees in towns and gardens.
Nov–Dec
Little Auk
Alle alleLC
A rare late-autumn passage visitor, sometimes driven close inshore by North Sea gales. Occasionally wrecked on beaches after severe storms.
Oct–Dec