Birds to See in Northern Ireland in December
126 bird species on our list for Northern Ireland are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are European Robin, Blackbird, Hooded Crow, Common Starling and Magpie. New this month: Fulmar, Sanderling, Hen Harrier and Greater Scaup and 5 more.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
From Northern Ireland’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 126 birds in December
126 birds
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.86% in Dec
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 3.59% in Dec
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 3.17% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.03% in Dec
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.95% in Dec
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.71% in Dec
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.71% in Dec
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.64% in Dec
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.58% in Dec
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.48% in Dec
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 2.41% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.38% in Dec
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in Dec
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in Dec
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.19% in Dec
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in Dec
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.02% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Dec
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Dec
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Dec
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Dec
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in Dec
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Dec
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in Dec
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Dec
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Dec
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Dec
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Dec
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Dec
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Dec
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Dec
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Dec
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Dec
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Dec
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Dec
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Dec
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Dec
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.65% in Dec
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Dec
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Dec
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Dec
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.59% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Dec
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Dec
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.52% in Dec
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Dec
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Dec
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.50% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Dec
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Dec
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.48% in Dec
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Dec
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Dec
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.46% in Dec
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Dec
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.44% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Dec
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Dec
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Dec
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Dec
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Dec
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentUncommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Dec
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.32% in Dec
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.30% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Dec
GreenshankTringa nebulariaPassage migrantUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.29% in Dec
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.28% in Dec
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Dec
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Dec
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Dec
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Dec
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.24% in Dec
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.22% in Dec
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.22% in Dec
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.18% in Dec
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.16% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.12% in Dec
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Dec · 0.10% in Dec
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.10% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.09% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Dec–Aug · 0.09% in Dec
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneWinter visitorUncommon45–47 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.09% in Dec
DipperCinclus cinclusSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.09% in Dec
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.09% in Dec
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.09% in Dec
BramblingFringilla montifringillaPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.07% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusPassage migrantUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Nov–Dec · 0.07% in Dec
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusSummer visitorUncommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.07% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserPassage migrantUncommon58–68 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.06% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantUncommon25–30 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.05% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Dec
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Dec
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaPassage migrantUncommon58–77 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.05% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantCommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.03% in Dec
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusResidentRare29–31 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.03% in Dec
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusPassage migrantUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.02% in Dec
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.02% 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