Birds to See in Massachusetts in December
133 bird species on our list for Massachusetts are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, Downy Woodpecker, American Crow and Tufted Titmouse. New this month: Black-necked Grebe and Ross's Goose.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecAt their peak
Hooded MerganserBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Great Horned OwlBusiest month of the year · All year
Eastern Screech-owlBusiest month of the year · All year
KittiwakeBusiest month of the year · Jun–Mar
Northern Saw-whet OwlBusiest month of the year · Sep–Apr
Tundra SwanBusiest month of the year · Mar
From Massachusetts’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
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.04% in Dec
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.36% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 3.11% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.11% in Dec
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.10% in Dec
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.96% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.92% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.75% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.72% in Dec
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.47% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.35% in Dec
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.02% in Dec
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Dec
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Dec- Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.26% in Dec
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.10% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Dec
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Dec
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.82% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.73% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.72% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.66% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.59% in Dec
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.58% in Dec
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.46% in Dec
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Dec
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Dec
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Dec
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.31% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.29% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.25% in Dec
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.25% in Dec
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.24% in Dec
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.22% in Dec
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.22% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.20% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.20% in Dec
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusResidentUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec- Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.19% in Dec
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.18% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.16% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.14% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.14% in Dec
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.14% in Dec- Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.14% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.13% in Dec
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.11% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec- KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.10% in Dec
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorUncommon52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.10% in Dec
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.09% in Dec
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.09% in Dec
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.08% in Dec
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Little AukAlle alleWinter visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.06% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.06% in Dec
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.06% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Dec
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleWinter visitorUncommon30–32 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.05% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.05% in Dec
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.05% in Dec
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.04% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.04% in Dec
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.04% in Dec- Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.03% in Dec
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Dec · 0.02% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Dec- Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusPassage migrantRare120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorRare60–75 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantRare58–70 cmRegularly Nov–Dec · 0.02% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
King EiderSomateria spectabilisWinter visitorRare46–64 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorRare64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
FulmarFulmarus glacialisPassage migrantUncommon45–50 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorRare38–44 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentRare58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusWinter visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in Dec
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jun–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiPassage migrantRare57–64 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentRare80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorRare58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
DickcisselSpiza americanaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Jun–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorRare40–47 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in Dec
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusWinter visitorRare29–31 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 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