Birds to See in New Mexico in December
118 bird species on our list for New Mexico are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are House Finch, White-crowned Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Common Raven and American Robin. New this month: Common Yellowthroat, Red-headed Woodpecker, Trumpeter Swan and Brent Goose and 2 more.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
Song SparrowBusiest month of the year · All year
MerlinBusiest month of the year · Sep–Apr
Swamp SparrowBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Fox SparrowBusiest month of the year · Jun–Jul
Lesser Black-backed GullBusiest month of the year · Sep–Apr
From New Mexico’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 118 birds in December
118 birds
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 3.97% in Dec
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 3.16% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.96% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.79% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.32% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.28% in Dec
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.15% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.10% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisWinter visitorCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 1.73% in Dec- Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaWinter visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Dec
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in Dec
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Dec
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Dec
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisResidentCommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Dec
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 1.06% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Dec
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentCommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.64% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.63% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Dec
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorCommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.56% in Dec
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentCommon52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Dec
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.47% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.43% in Dec
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesResidentUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Dec
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.39% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Dec
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.36% in Dec
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Dec
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.31% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.30% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentUncommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Dec
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Dec
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Dec
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosSummer visitorCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Dec
Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusResidentUncommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.20% in Dec
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec- MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.17% in Dec
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisResidentUncommon19–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.14% in Dec
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec- Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusResidentUncommon21–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisResidentUncommon26–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentUncommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisResidentUncommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiResidentUncommon19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.06% in Dec
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.04% in Dec- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorRare19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
- Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorRare15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.04% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Dec
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Dec- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorRare52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.03% in Dec
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorRare14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorRare39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorRare31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusWinter visitorRare8–12 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorRare37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Gila WoodpeckerMelanerpes uropygialisResidentRare20–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorRare16–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorRare139–157 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesPassage migrantRare52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorRare55–66 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorUncommon19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusResidentRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in Dec
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Dec
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaResidentRare58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataPassage migrantRare53–69 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Arizona WoodpeckerPicoides arizonaeSummer visitorRare19–21 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusWinter visitorRare29–31 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in Dec
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaWinter visitorRare63–73 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 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