Birds to See in Nova Scotia in January
108 bird species on our list for Nova Scotia are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are American Crow, American Herring Gull, Common Starling, Blue Jay and American Black Duck. New this month: Brent Goose and Muscovy Duck.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanAt their peak
Iceland GullBusiest month of the year · Nov–May
Long-tailed DuckBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Red-tailed HawkBusiest month of the year · All year
American Tree SparrowBusiest month of the year · Nov–Apr
Great CormorantBusiest month of the year · All year
Horned GrebeBusiest month of the year · Sep–Apr
From Nova Scotia’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 108 birds in January
108 birds
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 7.05% in Jan
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 5.50% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.02% in Jan
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.78% in Jan
American Black DuckAnas rubripesResidentCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 3.22% in Jan
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.14% in Jan
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.89% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.86% in Jan
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 2.34% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.20% in Jan
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in Jan
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 2.05% in Jan
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Jan
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Jan
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 1.74% in Jan
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Jan
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Jan- Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorCommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–May · 1.62% in Jan
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Jan
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Jan
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Jan- Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.37% in Jan
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Jan- Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Jan
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Jan
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Jan- American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.95% in Jan
American RobinTurdus migratoriusSummer visitorCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Jan
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Jan
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorCommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.72% in Jan
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Jan
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Jan- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Jan
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.41% in Jan
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Jan
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Jan
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentUncommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Jan- Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.27% in Jan
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Jan
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.25% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.24% in Jan
Little AukAlle alleWinter visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.24% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jan
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.21% in Jan
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.21% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.20% in Jan
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.19% in Jan
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.19% in Jan
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentUncommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.16% in Jan
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.15% in Jan
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.15% in Jan
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.14% in Jan
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentCommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorUncommon40–47 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.12% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.12% in Jan
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.12% in Jan
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.11% in Jan
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentUncommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.08% in Jan
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaResidentUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorUncommon52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.07% in Jan
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.07% in Jan
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.07% in Jan
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.06% in Jan
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Jan
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorRare69–84 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Jan
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.05% in Jan
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.05% in Jan
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.04% in Jan
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Jan
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.04% in Jan
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Jan
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentRare13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
King EiderSomateria spectabilisPassage migrantRare46–64 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.03% in Jan
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
DickcisselSpiza americanaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Aug–Feb · 0.03% in Jan
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Jan
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorUncommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.02% in Jan
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Jan
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentRare10–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in Jan
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentRare25–30 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.02% in Jan
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentUncommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Jan · 0.02% in Jan
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantRare58–70 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorRare60–75 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoWinter visitorRare30–32 cmRegularly Dec–Jun · 0.01% in Jan
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in Jan
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataPassage migrantRare66–84 cmRegularly 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