Birds to See in Texas in December
164 bird species on our list for Texas are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Turkey Vulture. New this month: Little Gull, Glaucous Gull, Red-throated Loon and Tundra Swan and 1 more.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · Sep–Apr
White-crowned SparrowBusiest month of the year · Oct–May
Song SparrowBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Swamp SparrowBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Hermit ThrushBusiest month of the year · Oct–May
From Texas’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 164 birds in December
164 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.84% in Dec
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.48% in Dec
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 2.15% in Dec- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 2.01% in Dec
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Dec
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Dec
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Dec
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 1.30% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Dec
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Dec
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Dec
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Dec
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.82% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Dec
Golden-fronted WoodpeckerMelanerpes aurifronsResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Dec
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisResidentCommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.74% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.71% in Dec
OspreyPandion haliaetusWinter visitorCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Dec- White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.60% in Dec
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Dec
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.60% in Dec
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Dec- Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaWinter visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.58% in Dec
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.56% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.54% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.51% in Dec
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.43% in Dec
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Dec- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.38% in Dec
- Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.36% in Dec
- Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.36% in Dec
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.36% in Dec
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.31% in Dec
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.29% in Dec
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentCommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Dec
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.23% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.23% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaWinter visitorUncommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.22% in Dec
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Dec
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorUncommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.19% in Dec
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Dec
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.18% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.16% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.15% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.15% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentUncommon52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.13% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.12% in Dec
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.12% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.12% in Dec
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentUncommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.09% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.09% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.09% in Dec
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.08% in Dec
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.07% in Dec
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in Dec
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.07% in Dec
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraWinter visitorUncommon36–43 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in Dec
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaResidentUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.05% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaWinter visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Dec
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Dec
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusWinter visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusWinter visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Dec
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in Dec
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaResidentRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesWinter visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Dec
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorUncommon33–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Dec
Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusSummer visitorUncommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolorResidentUncommon45–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorRare39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.03% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorRare31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentRare18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Dec
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.02% in Dec
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensWinter visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Dec
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Dec
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Dec
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.02% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorRare37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisWinter visitorRare19–21 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesResidentRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorRare58–68 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentRare66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorRare48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Dec
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorRare52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Nov–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorRare58–74 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataPassage migrantRare53–69 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorRare120–150 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.00% in Dec
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorRare87–100 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorRare14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiSummer visitorRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusWinter visitorRare25–30 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusSummer visitorRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusWinter visitorRare21–25 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensWinter visitorRare11–13 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.00% in Dec
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorRare46–51 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Ferruginous Pygmy-owlGlaucidium brasilianumWinter visitorRare15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.00% in Dec
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantRare55–66 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.00% in Dec
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisSummer visitorRare53–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Red JunglefowlGallus gallusResidentRare42–75 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusSummer visitorRare18–20 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 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