Birds to See in Rhode Island in December
119 bird species on our list for Rhode Island are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Song Sparrow, American Herring Gull, Canada Goose, Northern Cardinal and Blue Jay. New this month: King Eider, Black Guillemot, Ross's Goose and Pink-footed Goose and 2 more.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
Red-throated LoonBusiest month of the year · Oct–May
American Tree SparrowBusiest month of the year · Nov–Mar
Horned LarkBusiest month of the year · Oct–Mar
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerBusiest month of the year · Sep–Apr
Purple SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Nov–May
Fox SparrowBusiest month of the year · Nov–Mar
From Rhode Island’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 119 birds in December
119 birds
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.64% in Dec
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 3.58% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.11% in Dec
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.73% in Dec
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.73% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.51% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 2.45% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in Dec
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in Dec
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.80% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Dec
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 1.59% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Dec
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Dec
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Dec
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Dec
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.41% in Dec
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Dec- Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.02% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 1.00% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.67% in Dec
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.67% in Dec
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.65% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.65% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorCommon80–100 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.62% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorCommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.60% in Dec
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Dec
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Dec- American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.51% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.49% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.49% in Dec
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.48% in Dec
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.46% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.44% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.42% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Dec- Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.36% in Dec
- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.35% in Dec
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Dec
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorUncommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaResidentUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Dec
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.30% in Dec
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Dec
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.29% in Dec- Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.28% in Dec
- Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.27% in Dec
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.20% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.19% in Dec
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorUncommon52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.17% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.16% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.15% in Dec
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.15% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.14% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.14% in Dec
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.12% in Dec
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.11% in Dec
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.11% in Dec
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.10% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.08% in Dec
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.08% in Dec
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.07% in Dec
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.06% in Dec
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.06% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Dec
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.05% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.05% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.05% in Dec
Little AukAlle alleWinter visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.05% in Dec
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiPassage migrantRare57–64 cmRegularly Dec · 0.04% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.04% in Dec
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorRare16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusPassage migrantUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantRare60–75 cmRegularly Dec · 0.03% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.03% in Dec
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Dec
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Dec · 0.03% in Dec
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentRare20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusPassage migrantUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Dec · 0.02% in Dec
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusPassage migrantRare13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleWinter visitorUncommon30–32 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentRare28–34 cmRegularly Dec · 0.02% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
King EiderSomateria spectabilisWinter visitorUncommon46–64 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusPassage migrantRare46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaResidentRare58–74 cmRegularly Nov–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserSummer visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% 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