RSPB December's Birds of the Month

Five winter wonders to discover this festive season.

With Christmas just around the corner, it’s easy to get swept up in shopping, wrapping and festive gatherings, and forget about the winter wonders waiting outside. But if you take a moment in nature this month, you could be treated to sights as magical as even the twinkliest Christmas lights – from flocks of Starlings performing their breathtaking aerial ballets to jewel-like Firecrests flitting through frosty branches. 

Here’s our pick of five festive stars to look out for this month. Which one will top your Christmas wishlist?

1. Waxwing

With their slicked-back crests and lashings of dramatic black ‘eyeliner’, Waxwings are the punk rockers of the bird world. Their unusual name comes from the glossy red tips on some of their wing feathers, which look as if someone has dipped them in melted wax. 

These gorgeous birds breed over in Scandinavia, but if berry supplies are running low in winter, they head to the UK in search of food. They travel in noisy flocks, raiding trees and hedges for fruit, before moving on as quickly as they came. If you’re lucky enough to encounter them, it’s a magical experience! 

What to listen for

Waxwings sound as elegant as they look. Listen for their high-pitched, trilling calls – almost like the tinkling of a bell.

ID tips

• Peachy-buff coloured body

• Sleek crest that can be held upright or slicked back

• Black mask across the face and a small black throat patch 

• Yellow-tipped tail

• Red, wax-like tips on some wing feathers 

• Black, white and yellow wing markings 

• About Starling-sized

Where to see

Waxwings roam in nomadic flocks, searching for berries. Your best chance of seeing them is in northern and eastern England, especially in places with Rowan and Hawthorn trees. They often turn up on suburban streets lined with berry bushes, and even in supermarket car parks – so keep a lookout when you’re doing your weekly shop! 

Difficulty rating

Medium – Waxwing are unpredictable. In some years, only a few hundred will make the journey to the UK, but in others, thousands will flock to our shores in what’s known as an ‘irruption’. If you find a Rowan or Hawthorn tree heavy with fruit, you might strike gold – but you’ll need luck on your side.

Conservation status

Waxwings are on the Green list. Their numbers in the UK vary each winter, depending on berry supplies and weather conditions over in continental Europe.  

To view the other 4 Birds on the RSPB's website click this link text. They also have audio files so you know what to listen for!