Birds to See in Canada in January
146 bird species on our list for Canada are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are American Crow, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Common Raven and Mallard. New this month: Greater Yellowlegs, Sanderling, Fieldfare and Rock Ptarmigan and 1 more.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanArriving
At their peak
From Canada’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 146 birds in January
146 birds
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 4.39% in Jan
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 3.44% in Jan
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.09% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.80% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.75% in Jan
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.62% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.45% in Jan
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in Jan
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in Jan
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.15% in Jan
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Jan
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in Jan
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Jan
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Jan
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Jan
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Jan
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Jan
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.33% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Jan
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Jan
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Jan
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.01% in Jan
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Jan
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Jan
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.83% in Jan
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Jan
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Jan
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Jan
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Jan
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Jan
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.58% in Jan
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.54% in Jan
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.47% in Jan
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Jan
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Jan
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.43% in Jan
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Jan
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Jan
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Jan
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.42% in Jan
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Jan
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Jan
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Jan
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorUncommon52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.37% in Jan
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Jan
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.28% in Jan
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Jan
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusWinter visitorUncommon20–26 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.28% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Jan
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Jan
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusWinter visitorUncommon8–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Jan
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jan
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Jan
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Jan
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jan
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jan
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jan
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Jan
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.17% in Jan
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaResidentUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jan
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentUncommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsResidentUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.12% in Jan
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorCommon69–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.09% in Jan
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in Jan
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentUncommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.08% in Jan
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.08% in Jan
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaResidentUncommon58–74 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisResidentUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentUncommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.07% in Jan
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.06% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.06% in Jan
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.05% in Jan
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Brent GooseBranta berniclaResidentUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.04% in Jan
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.04% in Jan
Long-eared OwlAsio otusWinter visitorRare35–40 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Jan
Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruberResidentUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Little AukAlle alleWinter visitorRare18–21 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.03% in Jan
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorRare40–47 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Jan
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorRare38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.02% in Jan
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorRare20–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Jan
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.02% in Jan
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorUncommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusWinter visitorRare21–28 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.02% in Jan
King EiderSomateria spectabilisResidentRare46–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Jan
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in Jan
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentRare25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
FieldfareTurdus pilarisPassage migrantRare22–27 cmRegularly Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataWinter visitorRare41–49 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorRare60–75 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
DickcisselSpiza americanaResidentRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.00% in Jan
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorRare36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiWinter visitorRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisPassage migrantRare12–13 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.00% in Jan
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantRare58–70 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Jan
Grey HeronArdea cinereaPassage migrantRare90–98 cmRegularly Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Rock PtarmiganLagopus mutaSummer visitorRare34–36 cmRegularly May–Mar · 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