Birds in Illinois
Birds in Illinois in December
The most likely birds in Illinois in December are Northern Cardinal (49%), Dark-eyed Junco (49%), and Downy Woodpecker (43%). 94 species show up on at least 1 in 100 checklists.
Percent of complete checklists in Illinois that reported the bird during these weeks, 2016–2025 (83,564 checklists). It shows how likely you are to list the bird, not how many there are. Methods.
Common now
Share of checklists- 1
Northern Cardinal49% - 2
Dark-eyed Junco49% - 3
Downy Woodpecker43% - 4
Canada Goose43% - 5
Red-bellied Woodpecker37% - 6
Black-capped Chickadee37% - 7
House Sparrow36% - 8
Blue Jay34% - 9
Mallard32% - 10
White-breasted Nuthatch32% - 11
American Crow31% - 12
American Goldfinch30% - 13
European Starling27% - 14
Mourning Dove26% - 15
American Robin26% - 16
House Finch25% - 17
Ring-billed Gull22% - 18
American Tree Sparrow21% - 19
Red-tailed Hawk19% - 20
White-throated Sparrow16% - 21
Hairy Woodpecker16% - 22
American Herring Gull15% - 23
Common Goldeneye14% - 24
Tufted Titmouse12% - 25
Northern Flicker11% - 26
Red-breasted Merganser10% - 27
Song Sparrow10% - 28
Bald Eagle10% - 29
Carolina Wren10%
Leaving
Gone by the end of DecemberLess common
Share of checklists- 30
Rock Pigeon9.7% - 31
Great Blue Heron8.7% - 32
Red-breasted Nuthatch7.9% - 33
Common Merganser7.5% - 34
Cooper's Hawk6.8% - 35
Hooded Merganser6.6% - 36
Belted Kingfisher6.5% - 37
Brown Creeper6.4% - 38
Eastern Bluebird6.2% - 39
Bufflehead5.8% - 40
American Kestrel5.7% - 41
Carolina Chickadee5.7% - 42
Gadwall4.5% - 43
Red-winged Blackbird4.1% - 44
Cedar Waxwing4.0% - 45
American Coot3.8% - 46
Red-headed Woodpecker3.7% - 47
Pileated Woodpecker3.6% - 48Northern Harrier3.6%
- 49
Golden-crowned Kinglet3.4% - 50
Swamp Sparrow3.4% - 51
Pine Siskin3.3% - 52
Red-shouldered Hawk3.3% - 53
Ruddy Duck3.1% - 54
Fox Sparrow3.0%
Rare but possible
Under 3% of checklists- 55
White-crowned Sparrow3.0% - 56
Lesser Scaup2.9% - 57
American Black Duck2.8% - 58
Redhead2.8% - 59
Yellow-rumped Warbler2.7% - 60
Ring-necked Duck2.7%