Birds to See in Kansas in December
96 bird species on our list for Kansas are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, American Crow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay and Red-tailed Hawk. New this month: Snowy Owl, American Black Duck and Northern Saw-whet Owl.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
From Kansas’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 96 birds in December
96 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.94% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.41% in Dec
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.29% in Dec
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.25% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 3.13% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.10% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.95% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.89% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.83% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.26% in Dec
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.21% in Dec
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.02% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Dec
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaWinter visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.70% in Dec
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 1.70% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.59% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Dec
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Dec
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 1.07% in Dec
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.01% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorCommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.94% in Dec
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.86% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorCommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.85% in Dec
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.74% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Dec
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.62% in Dec
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentCommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.54% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorCommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.49% in Dec
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Dec
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.45% in Dec
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Dec
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.37% in Dec
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Dec
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.37% in Dec
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.36% in Dec
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.32% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.31% in Dec
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.28% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.28% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.26% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.25% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.24% in Dec
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.23% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.21% in Dec
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.17% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.17% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.12% in Dec
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.10% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.10% in Dec
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorUncommon139–157 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.09% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.09% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.09% in Dec
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Dec
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.07% in Dec
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusPassage migrantRare52–71 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.05% in Dec
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.03% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaPassage migrantRare58–74 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.02% in Dec
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorRare20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorRare54–59 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Nov–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentRare52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorRare140–160 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in Dec
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisResidentRare16–19 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusPassage migrantRare17–21 cmRegularly 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