Birds to See in Argyll and Bute in December
110 bird species on our list for Argyll and Bute are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are European Herring Gull, Common Gull, Mallard, Great Black-backed Gull and Hooded Crow. New this month: Fulmar, Barn Owl, Iceland Gull and Glaucous Gull.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
From Argyll and Bute’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 110 birds in December
110 birds
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.33% in Dec
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.62% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.55% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 2.52% in Dec
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.52% in Dec
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.47% in Dec
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in Dec
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 2.34% in Dec
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorCommon58–70 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 2.31% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in Dec
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 2.07% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 2.02% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Dec
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Dec
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorCommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 1.94% in Dec
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in Dec
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in Dec
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Dec
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 1.55% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.47% in Dec
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Dec
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentCommon41–52 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 1.13% in Dec
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.13% in Dec
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Dec
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Dec
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Dec
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Dec
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Dec
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Dec
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Dec
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Dec
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Dec
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentCommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Dec
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Dec
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.87% in Dec
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Dec
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Dec
Little EgretEgretta garzettaWinter visitorCommon55–65 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.79% in Dec
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Dec
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxWinter visitorCommon39–43 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.76% in Dec
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.76% in Dec
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Dec
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 0.73% in Dec
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Dec
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon27–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Dec
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Dec
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Dec
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Dec
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.58% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Dec
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Dec
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Dec
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisWinter visitorCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Dec
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Dec
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorCommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.50% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.47% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Dec
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.39% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.39% in Dec
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Dec
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Dec
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
MagpiePica picaWinter visitorCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.31% in Dec
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Dec
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Dec
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Dec
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.26% in Dec
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorCommon40–47 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.26% in Dec
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.24% in Dec
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.24% in Dec
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Dec
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Dec
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.24% in Dec
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusSummer visitorUncommon32–35 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.18% in Dec
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.18% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.18% in Dec
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentUncommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.18% in Dec
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.16% in Dec
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusPassage migrantUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Dec–May · 0.16% in Dec
DipperCinclus cinclusWinter visitorUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.13% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.13% in Dec
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesPassage migrantUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.10% in Dec
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.10% in Dec
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.10% in Dec
Barn OwlTyto albaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.08% in Dec
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Nov–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