Birds to See in East Lothian in December
121 bird species on our list for East Lothian are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Carrion Crow, European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Black-headed Gull and Magpie. New this month: Fulmar, Red Crossbill, Northern Pintail and Bohemian Waxwing.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
From East Lothian’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 121 birds in December
121 birds
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.38% in Dec
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.16% in Dec
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.90% in Dec
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.81% in Dec
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.56% in Dec
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.56% in Dec
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.36% in Dec
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 2.29% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in Dec
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in Dec
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in Dec
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Dec
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Dec
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Dec
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Dec
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Dec
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Dec
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.47% in Dec
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.41% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Dec
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.31% in Dec
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.20% in Dec
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Dec
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.08% in Dec
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusWinter visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Dec
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaResidentCommon51–58 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Dec
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 1.04% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Dec
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Dec
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Dec
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Dec
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Dec
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Dec
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Dec
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.79% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Dec
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Dec
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Dec
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.70% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.70% in Dec
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Dec
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Dec
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Dec
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Dec
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Dec
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Dec
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Dec
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Dec
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Dec
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Dec
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Dec
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.44% in Dec
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Dec
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Dec
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentUncommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Dec
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Dec
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisWinter visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.34% in Dec
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Dec
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Dec
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Dec
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusWinter visitorCommon46–51 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.30% in Dec
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.30% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.27% in Dec
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Dec
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Dec
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.18% in Dec
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerResidentUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.14% in Dec
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.13% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.08% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Dec
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaPassage migrantUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.08% in Dec
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.07% in Dec
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.07% in Dec
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Dec
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.06% in Dec
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.05% in Dec
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorUncommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.05% in Dec
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.04% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaPassage migrantUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 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