Birds to See in Colorado in December
114 bird species on our list for Colorado are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are House Finch, Northern Flicker, Canada Goose, Mallard and American Crow. New this month: Lincoln's Sparrow, Williamson's Sapsucker, Glaucous Gull and Eurasian Wigeon and 3 more.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
From Colorado’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 114 birds in December
114 birds
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 3.95% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 3.83% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.40% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.98% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.95% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.79% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.52% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.49% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 2.14% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 2.10% in Dec
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorCommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 1.98% in Dec
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Dec
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in Dec
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in Dec
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Dec
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.34% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 1.00% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.82% in Dec
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.79% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Dec
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraSummer visitorCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Dec
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorCommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Dec
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.41% in Dec
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.38% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.28% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Dec
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Dec
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.20% in Dec
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.17% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.17% in Dec
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.15% in Dec
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Dec
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Dec
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.08% in Dec
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.08% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in Dec
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaPassage migrantUncommon58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.08% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Dec
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in Dec
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorUncommon139–157 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.07% in Dec
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisResidentUncommon26–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisWinter visitorRare16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorRare19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.04% in Dec
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.03% in Dec
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.03% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.03% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiWinter visitorRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentRare23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaSummer visitorUncommon15–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorRare16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentRare21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusResidentRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusWinter visitorRare20–26 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Dec–May · 0.02% in Dec
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantRare55–66 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Nov–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentRare52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusWinter visitorRare8–12 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopePassage migrantRare42–51 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–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