Birds to See in Illinois in December
101 bird species on our list for Illinois are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Canada Goose, Downy Woodpecker, House Sparrow and Red-bellied Woodpecker. New this month: Glaucous Gull and Budgerigar.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecAt their peak
Hooded MerganserBusiest month of the year · Oct–Jul
Great Horned OwlBusiest month of the year · All year
Eastern Screech-owlBusiest month of the year · All year
Snowy OwlBusiest month of the year · Nov–Mar
Long-tailed DuckBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Red-throated LoonBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
From Illinois’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 101 birds in December
101 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.81% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 4.34% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 4.27% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.77% in Dec
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.73% in Dec
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.49% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.31% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.22% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 3.22% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.98% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.64% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.56% in Dec
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.55% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 2.21% in Dec
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.90% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Dec
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Dec
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 1.18% in Dec
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Dec
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.93% in Dec- Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.66% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.63% in Dec
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.46% in Dec
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Dec
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Dec
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Dec
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec- Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorCommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.32% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.30% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.30% in Dec
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Dec
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.29% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.28% in Dec
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.27% in Dec
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorUncommon54–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.27% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorCommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.26% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorCommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.24% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.23% in Dec
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.20% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentUncommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.18% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.16% in Dec
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.16% in Dec
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.16% in Dec
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.15% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.14% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec- Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.12% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.12% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.10% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Dec- Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorUncommon52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.10% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.09% in Dec
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.08% in Dec- Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Dec
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.08% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Dec- Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerPassage migrantUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.05% in Dec
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.04% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.04% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentRare29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentRare12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaPassage migrantRare16–22 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentRare16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataSummer visitorRare66–84 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusSummer visitorRare18–20 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