Birds to See in Georgia in December
132 bird species on our list for Georgia are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker and American Crow. New this month: Whimbrel, Least Flycatcher, Pacific Loon and Egyptian Goose and 1 more.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerBusiest month of the year · Oct–Mar
Swamp SparrowBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Orange-crowned WarblerBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Bald EagleBusiest month of the year · All year
Common LoonBusiest month of the year · Oct–May
From Georgia’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 132 birds in December
132 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.85% in Dec
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.08% in Dec
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.98% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.62% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.59% in Dec- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 2.51% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 2.50% in Dec
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.48% in Dec
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 2.31% in Dec
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.11% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Dec
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Dec
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Dec
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Dec
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Dec- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 1.15% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Dec
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Dec
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.96% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Dec
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Dec
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.75% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Dec- Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.66% in Dec
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.61% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Dec
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.57% in Dec
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Dec
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Dec
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.49% in Dec- Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.44% in Dec
- Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorUncommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Dec
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.26% in Dec
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Dec
Forster's TernSterna forsteriWinter visitorUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.19% in Dec
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentUncommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.15% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.15% in Dec- Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.14% in Dec
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.14% in Dec
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.13% in Dec
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.12% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.11% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.11% in Dec
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.11% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.10% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.09% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in Dec
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusResidentUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.07% in Dec
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Dec
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Dec
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.05% in Dec
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusResidentUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentRare16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorRare59–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.04% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorRare69–84 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.04% in Dec
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.03% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.02% in Dec
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentUncommon48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorRare37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorRare64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorRare39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaWinter visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorRare54–59 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorRare20–22 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisWinter visitorRare20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorRare40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentRare54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorRare53–69 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentRare15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.01% in Dec
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorRare64–81 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorRare58–68 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorRare140–160 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaWinter visitorRare17–20 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaResidentRare58–74 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusWinter visitorRare41–46 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Dec
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusResidentRare15–16 cmRegularly Dec · 0.00% in Dec
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentRare50–71 cmRegularly Nov–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorRare81–94 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.00% in Dec
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentRare63–73 cmRegularly Sep–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