Birds to See in New Jersey in December
137 bird species on our list for New Jersey are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Canada Goose, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Song Sparrow and Mourning Dove. New this month: Little Auk, Pink-footed Goose, Black-necked Grebe and Barnacle Goose.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
From New Jersey’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 137 birds in December
137 birds
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.24% in Dec
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.05% in Dec
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.74% in Dec
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.64% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in Dec
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.30% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in Dec
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.07% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Dec
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Dec
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Dec
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Dec
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in Dec
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Dec
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.27% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Dec
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Dec
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 1.04% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Dec
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Dec
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.69% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Dec
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.62% in Dec
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Dec
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.61% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.59% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.58% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.57% in Dec
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.48% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.46% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.45% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.45% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.43% in Dec
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.42% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.42% in Dec
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.40% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.40% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Dec
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.36% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.35% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.34% in Dec
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.30% in Dec
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.28% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorCommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.28% in Dec
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Dec
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.25% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorCommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.23% in Dec
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.20% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.20% in Dec
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.18% in Dec
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.17% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.17% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.17% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.12% in Dec
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.12% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.10% in Dec
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.08% in Dec
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Dec
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.07% in Dec
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in Dec
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.06% in Dec
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.05% in Dec
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.05% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorRare52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaPassage migrantUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.04% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.04% in Dec
King EiderSomateria spectabilisWinter visitorUncommon46–64 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.03% in Dec
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentRare43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.02% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.02% in Dec
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorRare38–44 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.02% in Dec
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantRare60–75 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Dec · 0.02% in Dec
Little AukAlle alleWinter visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Dec–Jun · 0.02% in Dec
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentRare29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorRare139–157 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.02% in Dec
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorRare30–38 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.02% in Dec
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaPassage migrantRare16–22 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Jun–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Jun–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Sep–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorRare58–70 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.00% in Dec
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserSummer visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly Nov–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