Birds to See in West Virginia in December
85 bird species on our list for West Virginia are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, American Crow, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse and Song Sparrow. New this month: Long-tailed Duck, Virginia Rail, Red-throated Loon and Lapland Longspur.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
Hooded MerganserBusiest month of the year · Nov–Apr
Bald EagleBusiest month of the year · All year
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerBusiest month of the year · Sep–Jul
American Black DuckBusiest month of the year · Oct–Mar
White-crowned SparrowBusiest month of the year · Oct–May
Fox SparrowBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
From West Virginia’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 85 birds in December
85 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.69% in Dec
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 4.63% in Dec
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.06% in Dec
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.96% in Dec
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.89% in Dec
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.54% in Dec
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 3.46% in Dec
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.24% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.78% in Dec
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.57% in Dec
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in Dec
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosWinter visitorCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in Dec
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in Dec
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Dec
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Dec
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Dec
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Dec
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Dec
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Dec
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Dec- Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.99% in Dec
- Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Dec
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Dec- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.84% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Dec
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.62% in Dec- American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorUncommon54–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.48% in Dec
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.44% in Dec
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Dec
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.42% in Dec- White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.39% in Dec
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.35% in Dec
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Dec
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.25% in Dec- Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.24% in Dec
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.22% in Dec
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Dec
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.20% in Dec
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.16% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.16% in Dec
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.12% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.10% in Dec
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.09% in Dec
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.09% in Dec
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Dec
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.06% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.05% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Dec
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.04% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.04% in Dec
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.04% in Dec
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.02% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantRare48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.02% in Dec
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataPassage migrantRare53–69 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusSummer visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusResidentRare15–16 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 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