Birds to See in Mississippi in December
121 bird species on our list for Mississippi are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Northern Mockingbird. New this month: Whimbrel, Least Flycatcher, Lark Sparrow and Say's Phoebe and 4 more.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Song SparrowBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Pied-billed GrebeBusiest month of the year · Jul–Apr
Hooded MerganserBusiest month of the year · Nov–Mar
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
GadwallBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Leaving soon
From Mississippi’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 121 birds in December
121 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.01% in Dec
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.70% in Dec
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 2.59% in Dec
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in Dec
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.36% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Dec
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Dec
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Dec- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.62% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Dec
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.29% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Dec- Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaWinter visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.17% in Dec
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.12% in Dec- Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 1.11% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Dec
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Dec
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Dec
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Dec- Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.73% in Dec
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Dec
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Dec- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.62% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Dec
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.57% in Dec
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.54% in Dec- GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.54% in Dec
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentCommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.50% in Dec
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.47% in Dec
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Dec
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisResidentCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Dec
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.42% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.41% in Dec
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.39% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.39% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.39% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.38% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Dec
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.36% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.36% in Dec
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentCommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.30% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.29% in Dec
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Dec
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.26% in Dec
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.26% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.21% in Dec
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.16% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.15% in Dec
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.14% in Dec
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.11% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesResidentUncommon23–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.10% in Dec
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.10% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Dec
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.09% in Dec
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.08% in Dec
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.08% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.07% in Dec
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.06% in Dec
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in Dec
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.05% in Dec
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisWinter visitorUncommon20–24 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Dec
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaWinter visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.04% in Dec
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.03% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.03% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusResidentUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.03% in Dec
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentUncommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaWinter visitorRare17–20 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Dec
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorRare37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesPassage migrantRare52–60 cmRegularly Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Dec
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Dec
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
American Black DuckAnas rubripesPassage migrantRare54–59 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaResidentRare58–74 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 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