Birds to See in New York in December
136 bird species on our list for New York are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, American Crow, Canada Goose and Downy Woodpecker. New this month: Razorbill, Little Auk and Painted Bunting.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
Great Horned OwlBusiest month of the year · All year
Eastern Screech-owlBusiest month of the year · All year
Purple SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Nov–Mar
Orange-crowned WarblerBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Northern Saw-whet OwlBusiest month of the year · Jun
King EiderBusiest month of the year · Jun
From New York’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 136 birds in December
136 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.96% in Dec
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.61% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.36% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.31% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 3.25% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.82% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.80% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 2.70% in Dec
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.68% in Dec
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.64% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.60% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.58% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in Dec
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.26% in Dec
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in Dec
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in Dec
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Dec
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Dec
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 1.01% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.90% in Dec
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.89% in Dec
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.60% in Dec
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.53% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.53% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Dec
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusResidentCommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Dec
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.43% in Dec
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorCommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.37% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.34% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.34% in Dec
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Dec
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Dec
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.30% in Dec
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Dec
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Dec
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.24% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.21% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.21% in Dec
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.20% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.19% in Dec
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.19% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.18% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.16% in Dec- Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.15% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.13% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Dec- Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.13% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.12% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.12% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.10% in Dec
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorUncommon52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.10% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.08% in Dec- Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.08% in Dec
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.08% in Dec
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.07% in Dec- Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in Dec
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.07% in Dec
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.06% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.06% in Dec
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.06% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Dec
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.05% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.04% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorRare64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.03% in Dec- Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.03% in Dec
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentRare19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec- King EiderSomateria spectabilisWinter visitorRare46–64 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.02% in Dec
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorRare40–47 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusWinter visitorRare25–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorRare37–41 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
DickcisselSpiza americanaPassage migrantRare14–16 cmRegularly Jun–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorRare38–44 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Little AukAlle alleWinter visitorRare18–21 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Sep–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantRare60–75 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorRare58–70 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.00% in Dec
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisWinter visitorRare12–13 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.00% in Dec
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.00% in Dec
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorRare28–34 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