Birds to See in Louisiana in December
133 bird species on our list for Louisiana are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Northern Mockingbird and Ruby-crowned Kinglet. New this month: Baltimore Oriole, Greater Roadrunner, Cinnamon Teal and Lapland Longspur and 2 more.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Orange-crowned WarblerBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Swamp SparrowBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Song SparrowBusiest month of the year · Oct–Mar
Blue-headed VireoBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
From Louisiana’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 133 birds in December
133 birds
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 2.98% in Dec
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.95% in Dec
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.63% in Dec
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.58% in Dec- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 2.40% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 2.24% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in Dec
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in Dec
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Dec- Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.64% in Dec
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Dec- Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.22% in Dec
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.96% in Dec- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.79% in Dec
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Dec
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Dec
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.67% in Dec- Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaWinter visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.65% in Dec
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Dec
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisResidentCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Dec- Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.57% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Dec
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.56% in Dec
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Dec
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Dec
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Dec
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Dec
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.44% in Dec
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.44% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.42% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentCommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Dec
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Dec
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.32% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.30% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.28% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.27% in Dec
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.24% in Dec
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Dec
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Dec
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.21% in Dec
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.21% in Dec
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.19% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.15% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.14% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.14% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.13% in Dec
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.13% in Dec
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.12% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.12% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.11% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Dec
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorCommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.08% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.08% in Dec
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.08% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Dec
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.06% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Dec
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in Dec
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisWinter visitorUncommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.04% in Dec
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentUncommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorRare39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorUncommon33–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorRare40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.03% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolorSummer visitorUncommon45–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.03% in Dec
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataWinter visitorRare11–12 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Dec
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusWinter visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Dec
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Dec
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Dec
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentUncommon48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Dec
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesResidentRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoSummer visitorUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaWinter visitorRare16–26 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentRare16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisPassage migrantRare37–60 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaWinter visitorRare17–20 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantRare48–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusResidentRare15–16 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorRare87–100 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.00% in Dec
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraWinter visitorRare36–43 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusSummer visitorRare52–54 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 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