Birds to See in Tennessee in December
109 bird species on our list for Tennessee are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, American Crow, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse and Red-bellied Woodpecker. New this month: American Tree Sparrow, Swan Goose and Burrowing Owl.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · Oct–May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Bonaparte's GullBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Fox SparrowBusiest month of the year · Oct–Mar
Snow GooseBusiest month of the year · Nov–Mar
Short-eared OwlBusiest month of the year · Nov–Mar
From Tennessee’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 109 birds in December
109 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.02% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.45% in Dec
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.18% in Dec
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 3.17% in Dec
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.89% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.79% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.73% in Dec
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.59% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in Dec
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.37% in Dec
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Dec
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.80% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Dec- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.31% in Dec
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 1.25% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Dec- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.13% in Dec
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Dec
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.92% in Dec
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Dec
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.86% in Dec
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.77% in Dec
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Dec
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.60% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Dec- Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.56% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Dec
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.45% in Dec
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.38% in Dec
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Dec- Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.34% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.32% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.31% in Dec
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.31% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.31% in Dec
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.26% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.25% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec- Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.21% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.20% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.18% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.18% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.14% in Dec
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.14% in Dec
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.13% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.13% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.09% in Dec
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorUncommon54–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.08% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.07% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.06% in Dec- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.05% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.04% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorRare52–64 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorRare37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.02% in Dec
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorRare16–22 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorRare34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorRare58–74 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Forster's TernSterna forsteriWinter visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorRare53–69 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorRare120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Dec
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Dec
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusSummer visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaWinter visitorRare16–26 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorRare14–17 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.00% in Dec
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantRare32–36 cmRegularly Jun–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorRare52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.00% in Dec
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaScarceRare19–25 cmRegularly Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesPassage migrantRare81–94 cmRegularly Dec–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