Birds to See in Arizona in December
138 bird species on our list for Arizona are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are House Finch, Gila Woodpecker, Mourning Dove, White-crowned Sparrow and Yellow-rumped Warbler. New this month: American Three-toed Woodpecker, Red-throated Loon, Blue-headed Vireo and Short-eared Owl and 1 more.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
From Arizona’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 138 birds in December
138 birds
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 3.12% in Dec
Gila WoodpeckerMelanerpes uropygialisResidentCommon20–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.98% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.92% in Dec
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 2.67% in Dec
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.42% in Dec
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 2.15% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in Dec
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Dec
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisResidentCommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Dec
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Dec
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Dec
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Dec
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.82% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Dec
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Dec
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.69% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaWinter visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.59% in Dec
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.59% in Dec
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Dec
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.54% in Dec
Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusResidentCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Dec
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Dec
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentCommon52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.46% in Dec
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisWinter visitorCommon19–21 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.42% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Dec
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.36% in Dec
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.34% in Dec
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.34% in Dec
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaWinter visitorUncommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Dec
Gilded FlickerColaptes chrysoidesResidentUncommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Dec
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Dec
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraWinter visitorCommon36–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.22% in Dec
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentUncommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.16% in Dec
Arizona WoodpeckerPicoides arizonaeResidentUncommon19–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.15% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.15% in Dec
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.15% in Dec
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentUncommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.14% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.13% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentUncommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.10% in Dec
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesResidentUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.08% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiResidentUncommon19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaResidentUncommon19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorRare39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisResidentRare26–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.03% in Dec
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusResidentRare21–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorRare15–19 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorRare19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorRare120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentRare16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaWinter visitorRare10–14 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorRare31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorRare12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorRare16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentRare46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesResidentRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
California CondorGymnogyps californianusSummer visitorRare109–140 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataPassage migrantRare53–69 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorRare16–22 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentRare14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusPassage migrantRare20–26 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorRare37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusWinter visitorRare8–12 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Whiskered Screech-owlMegascops trichopsisSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisResidentRare20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantRare28–38 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Dec
Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruberWinter visitorRare19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantRare10–13 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantRare12–15 cmRegularly Dec · 0.01% in Dec
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorRare53–65 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.00% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantRare48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.00% in Dec
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataWinter visitorRare41–49 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Dec
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorRare11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Dec
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusResidentRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorRare58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.00% in Dec
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentRare29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusPassage migrantRare52–64 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaPassage migrantRare12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.00% in Dec
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaWinter visitorRare63–73 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Dec
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 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