Birds to See in Delaware in December
117 bird species on our list for Delaware are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Canada Goose, Northern Cardinal, Song Sparrow, Turkey Vulture and Great Blue Heron. New this month: Common Merganser, Razorbill, Kittiwake and Iceland Gull and 4 more.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
From Delaware’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 117 birds in December
117 birds
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.93% in Dec
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.92% in Dec
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.70% in Dec
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.60% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 2.20% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in Dec
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in Dec
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Dec
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Dec
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Dec
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.82% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in Dec
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorCommon69–84 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 1.69% in Dec
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Dec
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Dec
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Dec
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.34% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Dec
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorCommon120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.93% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Dec
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.84% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.81% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.80% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.68% in Dec
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.61% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Dec
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.58% in Dec
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.54% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.52% in Dec
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.51% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.50% in Dec
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Dec
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.46% in Dec
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.39% in Dec
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.35% in Dec
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentCommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.33% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.30% in Dec
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.27% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorCommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.27% in Dec
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Dec
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorCommon33–36 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.25% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.24% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.21% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.15% in Dec
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.14% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.12% in Dec
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.12% in Dec
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.11% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.11% in Dec
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.11% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.10% in Dec
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorCommon23–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.10% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.09% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.08% in Dec
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoSummer visitorUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Dec
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Aug–Dec · 0.07% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorUncommon54–67 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.07% in Dec
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.06% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Dec
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.05% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.05% in Dec
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in Dec
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaPassage migrantUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.04% in Dec
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.03% in Dec
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantRare64–81 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.02% in Dec
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusPassage migrantRare17–21 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.02% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.01% in Dec
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorRare38–44 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusResidentRare62–68 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.01% in Dec
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 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