Birds to See in Connecticut in December
118 bird species on our list for Connecticut are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Cardinal and White-breasted Nuthatch. New this month: Razorbill, Glaucous Gull, Tundra Swan and Tufted Duck and 1 more.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
From Connecticut’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 118 birds in December
118 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.07% in Dec
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 3.62% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 3.52% in Dec
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.34% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.19% in Dec
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.09% in Dec
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.99% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.94% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.75% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.61% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.34% in Dec
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.11% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.03% in Dec
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in Dec
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.49% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Dec
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Dec
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.86% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Dec
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusResidentCommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Dec
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Dec
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.50% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.49% in Dec
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.49% in Dec
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.40% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.38% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.37% in Dec
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.33% in Dec
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.31% in Dec
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Dec
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Dec
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.25% in Dec
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.24% in Dec
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.23% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.22% in Dec
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.22% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.19% in Dec
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.17% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.17% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.17% in Dec
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.14% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.13% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.12% in Dec
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.10% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.10% in Dec
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.09% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.09% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.07% in Dec
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.07% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.07% in Dec
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.07% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.05% in Dec
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentRare16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusPassage migrantRare52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.04% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.04% in Dec
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Dec
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.04% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantRare60–75 cmRegularly Nov–Dec · 0.03% in Dec
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Northern GannetMorus bassanusPassage migrantUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusWinter visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.03% in Dec
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorRare40–47 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorUncommon58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
DickcisselSpiza americanaPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Aug–Jan · 0.02% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorRare120–150 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorRare80–122 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Dec
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jun–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaPassage migrantRare16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorRare38–44 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosPassage migrantRare66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.00% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 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