Birds to See in Kentucky in December
99 bird species on our list for Kentucky are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, American Crow, Red-bellied Woodpecker and American Robin. New this month: Cackling Goose, Glaucous Gull, Rough-legged Hawk and Red Crossbill and 1 more.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
From Kentucky’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 99 birds in December
99 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.63% in Dec
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.66% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.56% in Dec
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.32% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.30% in Dec
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 3.29% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 3.28% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.19% in Dec
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.94% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.82% in Dec
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.31% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.30% in Dec
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Dec
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Dec
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.98% in Dec
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.75% in Dec
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.73% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Dec
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.70% in Dec
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.69% in Dec
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Dec
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Dec
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.53% in Dec
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Dec
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.46% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.43% in Dec
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.40% in Dec
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.37% in Dec
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.34% in Dec
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.30% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.25% in Dec
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.24% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.23% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.21% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.18% in Dec
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.16% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.15% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.15% in Dec
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.12% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.12% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.12% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.11% in Dec
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.11% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.11% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.10% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.10% in Dec
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorUncommon54–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.10% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.06% in Dec
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.05% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.05% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.05% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.04% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Forster's TernSterna forsteriWinter visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.03% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantRare48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusPassage migrantRare46–59 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.02% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentRare15–17 cmRegularly Dec · 0.02% in Dec
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisPassage migrantRare37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorRare52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorRare54–67 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Dec
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.00% in Dec
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaScarceRare58–74 cmRegularly Nov–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorRare53–69 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentRare16–26 cmRegularly Nov–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Dec
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentRare20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentRare63–73 cmRegularly Oct–May · 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