Birds to See in Down in December
92 bird species on our list for Down are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are European Robin, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Common Starling and Dunnock. New this month: Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black Guillemot, Black-tailed Godwit and Greenfinch and 22 more.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
From Down’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 92 birds in December
92 birds
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 5.11% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 4.97% in Dec
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 4.67% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.45% in Dec
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 3.93% in Dec
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 3.85% in Dec
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 3.82% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 3.63% in Dec
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 3.60% in Dec
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.39% in Dec
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 3.36% in Dec
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.98% in Dec
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.48% in Dec
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in Dec
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.32% in Dec
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.21% in Dec
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Dec
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Dec
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.58% in Dec
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Dec
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Dec
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Dec
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Dec
Grey HeronArdea cinereaSummer visitorCommon90–98 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.01% in Dec
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.98% in Dec
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantCommon21–24 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.93% in Dec
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaResidentCommon13–15 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.90% in Dec
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Dec
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.85% in Dec
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Dec
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.66% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.63% in Dec
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisSummer visitorCommon23–29 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.63% in Dec
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Dec
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Dec
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRegularly Aug–Jan · 0.57% in Dec
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.52% in Dec
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.52% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorCommon75–90 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.49% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Dec
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleSummer visitorCommon30–32 cmRegularly Dec–Aug · 0.46% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopePassage migrantCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.46% in Dec
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Dec
MoorhenGallinula chloropusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.44% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaPassage migrantUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.41% in Dec
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.41% in Dec
GreenshankTringa nebulariaPassage migrantCommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.41% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorPassage migrantUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.41% in Dec
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.41% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.38% in Dec
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.35% in Dec
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Dec
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.33% in Dec
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.33% in Dec
FieldfareTurdus pilarisPassage migrantUncommon22–27 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.30% in Dec
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaPassage migrantUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Dec · 0.30% in Dec
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorUncommon20–24 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.30% in Dec
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusPassage migrantUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.30% in Dec
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.27% in Dec
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.27% in Dec
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaPassage migrantUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.25% in Dec
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.25% in Dec
CootFulica atraSummer visitorUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.25% in Dec
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaPassage migrantUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.25% in Dec
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.25% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentUncommon53–69 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.25% in Dec
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRegularly Jun–Jan · 0.25% in Dec
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentUncommon40–47 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.25% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxSummer visitorUncommon54–67 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.22% in Dec
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraPassage migrantUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Sep–Dec · 0.22% in Dec
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.22% in Dec
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.22% in Dec
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.19% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Dec–Jul · 0.19% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.19% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerPassage migrantUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Dec–May · 0.16% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaPassage migrantCommon37–41 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.16% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaPassage migrantUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.16% in Dec
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.14% in Dec
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.14% in Dec
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.14% in Dec
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.14% in Dec
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Dec · 0.14% in Dec
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Dec · 0.14% in Dec
Carrion CrowCorvus coronePassage migrantUncommon45–47 cmRegularly Dec · 0.11% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Dec–May · 0.08% in Dec
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.08% 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