Birds to See in North Carolina in December
148 bird species on our list for North Carolina are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, American Crow, Tufted Titmouse, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Eastern Bluebird. New this month: Razorbill, Painted Bunting, Manx Shearwater and Grey Phalarope and 4 more.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
Leaving soon
From North Carolina’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 148 birds in December
148 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.46% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.08% in Dec
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.93% in Dec
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.71% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 2.47% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.45% in Dec
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.42% in Dec
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.28% in Dec
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 2.15% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Dec
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Dec
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.89% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in Dec
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Dec
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in Dec
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.29% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.18% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Dec
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 1.02% in Dec
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Dec
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.79% in Dec
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Dec
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Dec
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.77% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Dec
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.66% in Dec
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.57% in Dec
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Dec
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.43% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.37% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentUncommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.30% in Dec
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Dec
American Black DuckAnas rubripesResidentUncommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Dec
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.25% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.25% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.25% in Dec
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.23% in Dec
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.22% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.22% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.21% in Dec
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.19% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.17% in Dec
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentUncommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.16% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.15% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.14% in Dec
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaResidentUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.10% in Dec
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.09% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.09% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in Dec
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaWinter visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.06% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentRare16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.04% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.03% in Dec
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.03% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Dec
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorRare50–71 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.02% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorRare40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorRare80–122 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.02% in Dec
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorRare20–22 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Dec
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly Nov–Dec · 0.02% in Dec
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentRare63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusWinter visitorRare41–46 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.02% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorRare58–68 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.02% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorRare37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorRare80–100 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorRare64–81 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in Dec
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.01% in Dec
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorRare58–74 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorRare52–60 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in Dec
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusWinter visitorRare30–38 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.01% in Dec
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorRare38–44 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorRare55–66 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusPassage migrantRare52–71 cmRegularly Dec · 0.00% in Dec
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaSummer visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusResidentRare15–16 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusWinter visitorRare20–22 cmRegularly Dec–May · 0.00% in Dec
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentRare110–142 cmRegularly Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusResidentRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 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