Birds to See in British Columbia in January
117 bird species on our list for British Columbia are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are Song Sparrow, American Crow, Mallard, Bald Eagle and Northern Flicker. New this month: Mountain Bluebird, Kittiwake, Willet and Northern Mockingbird and 2 more.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanArriving
At their peak
From British Columbia’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 117 birds in January
117 birds
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.53% in Jan
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.32% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 3.10% in Jan
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 3.03% in Jan
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.88% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.54% in Jan
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Jan
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Jan
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Jan
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Jan
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 1.38% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Jan
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorCommon15–19 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 1.31% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Jan
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Jan
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Jan
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Jan
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Jan
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusWinter visitorCommon20–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Jan
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Jan
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusResidentCommon8–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.79% in Jan
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Jan
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Jan
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Jan
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.69% in Jan
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.64% in Jan
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Jan
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaResidentCommon9–11 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Jan
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Jan
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Jan
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsResidentCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Jan
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Jan
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorCommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Jan
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Jan
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Jan
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Jan
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.34% in Jan
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Jan
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.28% in Jan
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Jan
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorUncommon58–74 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Jan
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.25% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Jan
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorCommon69–84 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.25% in Jan
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.24% in Jan
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jan
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorCommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.22% in Jan
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Jan
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.17% in Jan
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.16% in Jan
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.16% in Jan
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruberResidentUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentUncommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentUncommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Jan
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Jan
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Jan
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisResidentUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.07% in Jan
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorUncommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in Jan
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.06% in Jan
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxWinter visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.06% in Jan
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in Jan
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Jan
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentRare100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.04% in Jan
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Jan
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.03% in Jan
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaResidentRare40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaResidentRare12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Jan
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.02% in Jan
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiResidentRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosSummer visitorRare21–26 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Jan
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorRare40–47 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataWinter visitorRare41–49 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in Jan
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
WilletTringa semipalmataPassage migrantRare33–41 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
Great White EgretArdea albaPassage migrantRare80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorRare52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentRare58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.00% in Jan
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorRare54–59 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.00% in Jan
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusSummer visitorRare21–28 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in Jan
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly May–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