Birds to See in Ohio in December
106 bird species on our list for Ohio are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker and White-breasted Nuthatch. New this month: Ruffed Grouse.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecAt their peak
From Ohio’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 106 birds in December
106 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.53% in Dec
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.51% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 3.81% in Dec
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.60% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.31% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.15% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.00% in Dec
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.93% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.89% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.89% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.85% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.80% in Dec
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.64% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 2.34% in Dec
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.26% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Dec
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Dec
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 1.29% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Dec
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Dec
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.86% in Dec
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.70% in Dec
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantCommon28–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.53% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.48% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.47% in Dec
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Dec
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.42% in Dec
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.37% in Dec
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.37% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.36% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.35% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.35% in Dec
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Dec
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerPassage migrantCommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.30% in Dec
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.30% in Dec
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.30% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.29% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.27% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Dec
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Dec
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.24% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.19% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.17% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.15% in Dec
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.15% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.14% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon91–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.14% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.13% in Dec
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.13% in Dec
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorUncommon52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.12% in Dec
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Dec
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.09% in Dec
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.09% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Dec
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.08% in Dec
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.07% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Dec
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Dec
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.05% in Dec
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorRare54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.03% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Dec
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantRare55–66 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.02% in Dec
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorRare20–22 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Nov–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaPassage migrantRare58–74 cmRegularly Nov–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoWinter visitorRare30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentRare36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Black SwanCygnus atratusScarceRare110–142 cmRegularly Nov–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusWinter visitorRare41–50 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 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