Birds to See in Arkansas in December
107 bird species on our list for Arkansas are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, American Crow, Blue Jay, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Tufted Titmouse. New this month: Tundra Swan, Pacific Loon, Golden Eagle and American Tree Sparrow and 1 more.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
Song SparrowBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Snow GooseBusiest month of the year · Oct–Mar
White-crowned SparrowBusiest month of the year · Oct–May
Greater White-fronted GooseBusiest month of the year · Oct–Mar
From Arkansas’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 107 birds in December
107 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.05% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 4.01% in Dec
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.17% in Dec
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.11% in Dec
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.83% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.54% in Dec
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.32% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Dec
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Dec
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Dec- Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaWinter visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.53% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Dec
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.39% in Dec
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Dec- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.15% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Dec
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.05% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 1.02% in Dec
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Dec- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.87% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Dec
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Dec
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.74% in Dec- Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorCommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.73% in Dec
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.72% in Dec
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.68% in Dec- White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.63% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Dec- Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.45% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.42% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.42% in Dec
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Dec
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.38% in Dec
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorCommon15–19 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.38% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.27% in Dec
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.26% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.23% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.22% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.21% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.21% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.20% in Dec
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.19% in Dec
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.17% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.16% in Dec
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorUncommon139–157 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.13% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.12% in Dec
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.07% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.06% in Dec
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.06% in Dec
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.06% in Dec
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaWinter visitorUncommon16–26 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Dec
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.05% in Dec
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.04% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.04% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.03% in Dec
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentUncommon52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Forster's TernSterna forsteriWinter visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorRare52–64 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.02% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorRare80–122 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Dec
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorRare34–58 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisPassage migrantRare37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorRare58–68 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Dec
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaScarceRare14–17 cmRegularly Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in Dec
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaResidentRare17–20 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaSummer visitorUncommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaResidentRare58–74 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesSummer visitorRare81–94 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.01% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataPassage migrantRare53–69 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 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