Birds to See in Alabama in December
123 bird species on our list for Alabama are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Tufted Titmouse. New this month: Say's Phoebe, Glaucous Gull and Golden Eagle.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
From Alabama’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
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.66% in Dec
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.76% in Dec
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.58% in Dec
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 2.54% in Dec
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.54% in Dec
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.50% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.42% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.36% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 2.11% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.03% in Dec
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Dec
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.87% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Dec
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Dec
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in Dec
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaWinter visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Dec
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 1.02% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Dec
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Dec
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.93% in Dec
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.92% in Dec
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.86% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Dec
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Dec
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.63% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Dec
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.54% in Dec
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Dec
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.50% in Dec
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.49% in Dec
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.43% in Dec
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Dec
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.41% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Dec
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Dec
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.37% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.35% in Dec
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.28% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.28% in Dec
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.23% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentUncommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.20% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.19% in Dec
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.19% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.18% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.18% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.17% in Dec
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.17% in Dec
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.13% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.11% in Dec
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in Dec
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.09% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.08% in Dec
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.08% in Dec
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.08% in Dec
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Dec
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.07% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorRare87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorRare52–64 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Dec
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorRare54–59 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Dec
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.03% in Dec
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Dec
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaWinter visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorRare64–79 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Dec
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Dec
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Dec
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantRare48–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Dec
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Dec
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentRare23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentRare53–63 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserPassage migrantRare75–90 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaResidentRare58–74 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaResidentRare17–20 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusPassage migrantRare34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.00% in Dec
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantRare32–36 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.00% in Dec
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorRare48–66 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorRare53–69 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% 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