Birds to See in Australia in January
100 bird species on our list for Australia are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are Australian Magpie, Rainbow Lorikeet, Willie Wagtail, Laughing Kookaburra and Galah. New this month: Regent Honeyeater.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanAt their peak
GreenshankBusiest month of the year · All year
Little TernBusiest month of the year · All year
Pacific Golden-PloverBusiest month of the year · All year
Common TernBusiest month of the year · All year
Wood SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Jul–Apr
Oriental Honey-buzzardBusiest month of the year · Nov–Feb
From Australia’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 100 birds in January
100 birds
Australian MagpieGymnorhina tibicenResidentCommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 2.69% in Jan
Rainbow LorikeetTrichoglossus moluccanusResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Jan
Willie WagtailRhipidura leucophrysResidentCommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Jan
Laughing KookaburraDacelo novaeguineaeResidentCommon41–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Jan
GalahEolophus roseicapillaResidentCommon35–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Jan
Red WattlebirdAnthochaera carunculataResidentCommon33–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Jan
Australian RavenCorvus coronoidesResidentCommon46–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Jan
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Jan
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentCommon110–142 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Jan
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Jan
New Holland HoneyeaterPhylidonyris novaehollandiaeResidentCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Jan
Eastern Yellow RobinEopsaltria australisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Jan
Red-browed FinchNeochmia temporalisResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Jan
Little WattlebirdAnthochaera chrysopteraResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Jan
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Jan
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentUncommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Jan
Australian King-parrotAlisterus scapularisResidentUncommon40–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Jan
Whistling KiteHaliastur sphenurusResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Jan
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Jan
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentUncommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Jan
Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataSummer visitorUncommon17–22 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.20% in Jan
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Jan
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentUncommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan- GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorUncommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentUncommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan- Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentUncommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Australian HobbyFalco longipennisResidentUncommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentUncommon48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan- Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Jan
Blue-winged KookaburraDacelo leachiiResidentUncommon38–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Metallic StarlingAplonis metallicaResidentUncommon22–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
White-cheeked HoneyeaterPhylidonyris nigerResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.07% in Jan
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentUncommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
ApostlebirdStruthidea cinereaResidentUncommon29–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentUncommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Purple-crowned LorikeetGlossopsitta porphyrocephalaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
BrolgaAntigone rubicundaResidentUncommon100–140 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Yellow WattlebirdAnthochaera paradoxaResidentUncommon37–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan- Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
EmuDromaius novaehollandiaeResidentUncommon150–190 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentRare40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusSummer visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Jan
CockatielNymphicus hollandicusResidentUncommon30–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentRare23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan- Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorRare19–21 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.03% in Jan
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorRare27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentRare11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorRare18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Australian BustardArdeotis australisResidentRare100–140 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Mulga ParrotPsephotellus variusResidentUncommon27–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Rose RobinPetroica roseaWinter visitorUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Western WattlebirdAnthochaera lunulataResidentRare33–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Little PenguinEudyptula minorResidentRare30–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentRare13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosSummer visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentRare53–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Long-tailed FinchPoephila acuticaudaResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorRare41–46 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in Jan
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaResidentRare33–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaResidentRare40–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Southern CassowaryCasuarius casuariusResidentRare127–170 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorRare46–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
RedthroatPyrrholaemus brunneusResidentRare12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Regent HoneyeaterAnthochaera phrygiaPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Jan–Jul · 0.00% in Jan
White-chinned PetrelProcellaria aequinoctialisSummer visitorRare50–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
King PenguinAptenodytes patagonicusSummer visitorRare70–100 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
Southern Royal AlbatrossDiomedea epomophoraResidentRare115–123 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan- Oriental Honey-buzzardPernis ptilorhynchusSummer visitorRare52–68 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.00% in Jan
Red JunglefowlGallus gallusResidentRare42–75 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Gouldian FinchChloebia gouldiaeWinter visitorRare13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiResidentRare33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
RuffCalidris pugnaxSummer visitorRare20–32 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Gentoo PenguinPygoscelis papuaSummer visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaSummer visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.00% in Jan
Southern Rockhopper PenguinEudyptes chrysocomeSummer visitorRare45–58 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.00% in Jan
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorRare28–35 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusSummer visitorRare48–58 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Sarus CraneGrus antigoneResidentRare152–156 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorRare14–17 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.00% in Jan
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentRare100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentRare38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Wandering AlbatrossDiomedea exulansResidentRare107–135 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Little StintCalidris minutaSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
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