Birds to See in Aberdeenshire in December
101 bird species on our list for Aberdeenshire are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are European Robin, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow and Blue Tit. New this month: Fulmar, Barnacle Goose, Brambling and Northern Pintail and 3 more.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
From Aberdeenshire’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 101 birds in December
101 birds
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.88% in Dec
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 3.54% in Dec
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 3.50% in Dec
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.40% in Dec
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 3.02% in Dec
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.85% in Dec
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.68% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.61% in Dec
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.57% in Dec
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 2.57% in Dec
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 2.47% in Dec
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in Dec
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 2.06% in Dec
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.03% in Dec
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Dec
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Dec
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Dec
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Dec
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 1.34% in Dec
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Dec
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Dec
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Dec
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Dec
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusWinter visitorCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Dec
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 1.13% in Dec
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Dec
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaWinter visitorCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Dec
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Dec
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Dec
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Dec
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Dec
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Dec
MoorhenGallinula chloropusWinter visitorCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Dec
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.82% in Dec
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Dec
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Dec
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Dec
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Dec
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Dec
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorCommon26–29 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.69% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Dec
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Dec
Little EgretEgretta garzettaWinter visitorCommon55–65 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.62% in Dec
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Dec
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Dec
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Dec
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Dec
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.51% in Dec
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Dec
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Dec
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentUncommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentCommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Dec
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorUncommon80–104 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.38% in Dec
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisWinter visitorUncommon23–29 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.38% in Dec
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon27–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Dec
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Dec
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.34% in Dec
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.34% in Dec
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.31% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.27% in Dec
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Aug–Feb · 0.24% in Dec
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.21% in Dec
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.21% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.21% in Dec
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Dec–May · 0.17% in Dec
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.17% in Dec
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.17% in Dec
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.17% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.17% in Dec
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.17% in Dec
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.17% in Dec
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.14% in Dec
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.14% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusPassage migrantUncommon48–56 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.10% 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