Birds to See in Oklahoma in December
112 bird species on our list for Oklahoma are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, American Crow, Blue Jay, Canada Goose and American Robin. New this month: Long-tailed Duck, Western Screech-owl, Mute Swan and Red Crossbill.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
Song SparrowBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Cedar WaxwingBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerBusiest month of the year · Oct–Mar
Hermit ThrushBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Lapland LongspurBusiest month of the year · Nov–Feb
From Oklahoma’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 112 birds in December
112 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.80% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.70% in Dec
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.97% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.47% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in Dec
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.26% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Aug–May · 2.10% in Dec
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Dec- Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaWinter visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.58% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Dec
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Dec
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Dec
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Dec
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.27% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.14% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Dec
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.09% in Dec- Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.97% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Dec- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.79% in Dec
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.76% in Dec
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Dec
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.64% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.63% in Dec- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.55% in Dec
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Dec
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.53% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.51% in Dec
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorCommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.51% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorCommon53–76 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.50% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.48% in Dec
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Dec
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentCommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Dec
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.40% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Dec
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.34% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.30% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.30% in Dec
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.28% in Dec
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.27% in Dec
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.26% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.24% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.24% in Dec
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.21% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.20% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.20% in Dec
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.18% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.17% in Dec
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.16% in Dec- Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.15% in Dec
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.13% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.13% in Dec
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.12% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.12% in Dec
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.12% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.11% in Dec- Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.10% in Dec
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentUncommon52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.10% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Dec
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.09% in Dec
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.07% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.07% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantCommon32–36 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.06% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Dec
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisResidentUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.02% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorRare120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Dec
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentRare16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesResidentRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorRare58–74 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorRare139–157 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Dec–May · 0.01% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorRare53–69 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorRare16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Dec
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorRare52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorRare140–160 cmRegularly Dec–Jul · 0.01% in Dec
Golden-fronted WoodpeckerMelanerpes aurifronsResidentRare21–26 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Dec
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiResidentRare19–25 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 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