Birds to See in Fife in December
123 bird species on our list for Fife are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are European Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon and European Robin. New this month: Smew and Red Crossbill.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecAt their peak
From Fife’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 123 birds in December
123 birds
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 4.11% in Dec
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.96% in Dec
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.98% in Dec
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.97% in Dec
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.81% in Dec
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.79% in Dec
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.31% in Dec
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.24% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.21% in Dec
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in Dec
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Dec
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in Dec
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Dec
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in Dec
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Dec
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Dec
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Dec
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Dec
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Dec
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.29% in Dec
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Dec
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Dec
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.21% in Dec
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 1.21% in Dec
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.14% in Dec
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Dec
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Dec
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.98% in Dec
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Dec
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Dec
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Dec
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Dec
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.81% in Dec
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Dec
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.77% in Dec
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Dec
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Dec
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Dec
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaWinter visitorCommon51–58 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.57% in Dec
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Dec
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Dec
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.49% in Dec
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Dec
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.46% in Dec
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Dec
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Dec
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Dec
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Dec
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Dec
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.38% in Dec
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Dec
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.35% in Dec
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentUncommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Dec
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Dec
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.28% in Dec
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Dec
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Dec
Little AukAlle allePassage migrantUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.25% in Dec
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.23% in Dec
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.21% in Dec
SmewMergellus albellusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.21% in Dec
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.21% in Dec
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.19% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.17% in Dec
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.17% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.15% in Dec
Water RailRallus aquaticusSummer visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.15% in Dec
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.13% in Dec
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.13% in Dec
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Aug–Feb · 0.11% in Dec
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.08% in Dec
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentUncommon30–32 cmRegularly Aug–Jan · 0.07% in Dec
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorCommon25–30 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.07% in Dec
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.07% in Dec
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.06% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.05% in Dec
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisWinter visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Dec
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 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