Birds in Alaska in December: What to Photograph (60 Species)

60 birds were recorded seen in Alaska in December in our iNaturalist sample; 0 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Top birds in December

Common Raven181 obs.

Bald Eagle139 obs.

Common Merganser91 obs.

Dark-eyed Junco73 obs.

Pine Grosbeak67 obs.

Black-billed Magpie63 obs.

Glaucous-winged Gull62 obs.

Trumpeter Swan58 obs.

Long-tailed Duck55 obs.

Pacific Loon54 obs.

Common Loon54 obs.

Black-capped Chickadee54 obs.

All birds seen in Alaska in December

#	Species	Scientific name	Family	Obs.	Peak in state
1	Common Raven	Corvus corax	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	181	Jul (past peak)
2	Bald Eagle	Haliaeetus leucocephalus	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	139	Jul (past peak)
3	Common Merganser	Mergus merganser	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	91	Jul (past peak)
4	Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	New World Sparrows	73	Jun (past peak)
5	Pine Grosbeak	Pinicola enucleator	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	67	Jun (past peak)
6	Black-billed Magpie	Pica hudsonia	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	63	Jul (past peak)
7	Glaucous-winged Gull	Larus glaucescens	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	62	Jul (past peak)
8	Trumpeter Swan	Cygnus buccinator	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	58	Jun (past peak)
9	Long-tailed Duck	Clangula hyemalis	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	55	Jun (past peak)
10	Pacific Loon	Gavia pacifica	Loons	54	Jun (past peak)
11	Common Loon	Gavia immer	Loons	54	Jun (past peak)
12	Black-capped Chickadee	Poecile atricapillus	Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice	54	Jul (past peak)
13	Redpoll	Acanthis flammea	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	52	Jun (past peak)
14	Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	50	May (past peak)
15	Song Sparrow	Melospiza melodia	New World Sparrows	49	Jun (past peak)
16	Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	48	Aug (past peak)
17	Bufflehead	Bucephala albeola	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	46	Apr (past peak)
18	Pelagic Cormorant	Urile pelagicus	Cormorants and Shags	46	Jun (past peak)
19	American Dipper	Cinclus mexicanus	Dippers	45	Jun (past peak)
20	Red-breasted Merganser	Mergus serrator	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	42	Jun (past peak)
21	Short-billed Gull	Larus brachyrhynchus	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	40	Jul (past peak)
22	Horned Grebe	Podiceps auritus	Grebes	39	May (past peak)
23	Barrow's Goldeneye	Bucephala islandica	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	39	May (past peak)
24	Bohemian Waxwing	Bombycilla garrulus	Waxwings	38	Jan (past peak)
25	Varied Thrush	Ixoreus naevius	Thrushes	38	Jun (past peak)
26	Greater Scaup	Aythya marila	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	37	Jun (past peak)
27	Harlequin Duck	Histrionicus histrionicus	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	37	Jun (past peak)
28	Common Goldeneye	Bucephala clangula	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	35	Apr (past peak)
29	Double-crested Cormorant	Nannopterum auritum	Cormorants and Shags	32	Aug (past peak)
30	Pine Siskin	Spinus pinus	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	30	Jul (past peak)
31	Ring-necked Duck	Aythya collaris	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	27	May (past peak)
32	Lesser Scaup	Aythya affinis	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	27	May (past peak)
33	Northern Flicker	Colaptes auratus	Woodpeckers	27	Jul (past peak)
34	Surf Scoter	Melanitta perspicillata	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	26	May (past peak)
35	Hairy Woodpecker	Leuconotopicus villosus	Woodpeckers	26	Jun (past peak)
36	American Coot	Fulica americana	Rails, Gallinules, and Coots	25	Nov (past peak)
37	Wood Duck	Aix sponsa	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	25	Mar (past peak)
38	American Wigeon	Mareca americana	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	25	May (past peak)
39	Red-necked Grebe	Podiceps grisegena	Grebes	24	Jun (past peak)
40	Golden-crowned Kinglet	Regulus satrapa	Kinglets	23	Aug (past peak)
41	Lincoln's Sparrow	Melospiza lincolnii	New World Sparrows	22	Jun (past peak)
42	Black Oystercatcher	Haematopus bachmani	Oystercatchers	21	Jun (past peak)
43	American Robin	Turdus migratorius	Thrushes	21	Jun (past peak)
44	Glaucous Gull	Larus hyperboreus	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	20	Jun (past peak)
45	Brown Creeper	Certhia americana	Treecreepers	20	Aug (past peak)
46	Belted Kingfisher	Megaceryle alcyon	Kingfishers	19	Aug (past peak)
47	Black Turnstone	Arenaria melanocephala	Sandpipers and Allies	19	Aug (past peak)
48	Anna's Hummingbird	Calypte anna	Hummingbirds	19	Jan (past peak)
49	Downy Woodpecker	Dryobates pubescens	Woodpeckers	19	Mar (past peak)
50	Common Murre	Uria aalge	Auks, Murres, and Puffins	18	Jul (past peak)

Birds Seen in Alaska in December

Top birds in December

All birds seen in Alaska in December