Birds to See in China in January
173 bird species on our list for China are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are Pied Wagtail, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Little Grebe, Little Egret and Moorhen. New this month: Red Knot, Desert Finch, Buzzard and Redwing and 5 more.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanArriving
At their peak
Green SandpiperBusiest month of the year · All year
Greater ScaupBusiest month of the year · Oct–Mar
White-crested LaughingthrushBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Long-tailed DuckBusiest month of the year · Dec–Mar
Eurasian WoodcockBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Meadow PipitBusiest month of the year · Apr
From China’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 173 birds in January
173 birds
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in Jan
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Jan
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Jan
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Jan
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Jan
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Jan
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Jan
Crested MynaAcridotheres cristatellusResidentCommon24–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Jan
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.72% in Jan
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Jan
Red-flanked BluetailTarsiger cyanurusWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.65% in Jan
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Jan
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentCommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Jan
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.60% in Jan
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Jan
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusWinter visitorCommon10–11 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.54% in Jan
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Jan
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.46% in Jan
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Jan
HoopoeUpupa epopsResidentCommon25–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Jan
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Jan
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Jan
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Jan- Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Jan
GreenshankTringa nebulariaResidentCommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Jan
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaResidentCommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Jan
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Jan
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Jan
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosResidentCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Jan
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.38% in Jan
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorUncommon40–47 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.37% in Jan
Dusky ThrushTurdus eunomusWinter visitorUncommon23–25 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.36% in Jan
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.35% in Jan
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Jan
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Jan
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.31% in Jan
Plumbeous Water-redstartPhoenicurus fuliginosusResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.28% in Jan
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.26% in Jan
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Jan
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentUncommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Jan
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusWinter visitorUncommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Jan
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaWinter visitorUncommon80–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jan
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jan
Vega GullLarus vegaeWinter visitorUncommon55–67 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.21% in Jan
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.21% in Jan
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jan
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Jan
SmewMergellus albellusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.20% in Jan
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.20% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Jan
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Jan
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentUncommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Jan
Common CraneGrus grusWinter visitorUncommon100–130 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.19% in Jan
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.19% in Jan
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Jan
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.17% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.16% in Jan
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorUncommon81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostrisWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.14% in Jan
Taiga Bean GooseAnser fabalisWinter visitorUncommon68–88 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.14% in Jan
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentUncommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentUncommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.12% in Jan
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.12% in Jan
OspreyPandion haliaetusWinter visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.12% in Jan
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
White-tailed RobinMyiomela leucuraResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Blue Rock-thrushMonticola solitariusResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan- Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.10% in Jan
Black EagleIctinaetus malaiensisResidentUncommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisResidentUncommon69–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Japanese WaxwingBombycilla japonicaWinter visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.09% in Jan
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisWinter visitorUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Jan
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.08% in Jan- White-crested LaughingthrushGarrulax leucolophusWinter visitorUncommon27–31 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in Jan
RedshankTringa totanusSummer visitorUncommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentUncommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentUncommon53–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Black-tailed GullLarus crassirostrisSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentUncommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in Jan
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.07% in Jan
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusWinter visitorUncommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.06% in Jan
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxSummer visitorUncommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaWinter visitorUncommon66–94 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Jan
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Cinereous VultureAegypius monachusResidentUncommon98–120 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.05% in Jan
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Jan
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Jan
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaResidentUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.05% in Jan
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Jan
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Jan
Oriental Honey-buzzardPernis ptilorhynchusSummer visitorUncommon52–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentUncommon110–142 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan- Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorRare37–60 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.04% in Jan
Northern GoshawkAstur gentilisWinter visitorUncommon46–61 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.04% in Jan
Red JunglefowlGallus gallusResidentRare42–75 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan- Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorRare33–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Jan
Water RailRallus aquaticusWinter visitorRare23–28 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.04% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentRare31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.03% in Jan
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.03% in Jan
Purple HeronArdea purpureaSummer visitorUncommon78–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
WryneckJynx torquillaWinter visitorUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.03% in Jan
Bar-headed GooseAnser indicusResidentUncommon68–78 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Jan
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorRare53–69 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestrisSummer visitorUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.02% in Jan
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.02% in Jan
Blue-eared BarbetPsilopogon cyanotisResidentRare20–23 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.02% in Jan
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.02% in Jan
Long-eared OwlAsio otusWinter visitorUncommon35–40 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in Jan
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusSummer visitorUncommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in Jan
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
GarganeySpatula querquedulaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.02% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxSummer visitorUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseusPassage migrantRare120–145 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Jan
Orange-headed ThrushGeokichla citrinaResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaPassage migrantRare58–77 cmRegularly Jan–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Lady Amherst's PheasantChrysolophus amherstiaeSummer visitorUncommon100–120 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.01% in Jan
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisWinter visitorRare14–15 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorRare37–41 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
RedwingTurdus iliacusPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Jan–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
DipperCinclus cinclusSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorRare10–12 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.01% in Jan
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
MagpiePica picaSummer visitorUncommon44–46 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.01% in Jan
Golden PheasantChrysolophus pictusSummer visitorUncommon90–105 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Bonelli's EagleAquila fasciataResidentRare65–72 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Blossom-headed ParakeetPsittacula roseataPassage migrantRare33–36 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorRare52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
BuzzardButeo buteoSummer visitorRare51–57 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensPassage migrantRare69–84 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Red-breasted GooseBranta ruficollisPassage migrantRare53–56 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in Jan
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorRare80–122 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.00% in Jan
Black GrouseLyrurus tetrixPassage migrantRare40–55 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorResidentRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Desert FinchRhodospiza obsoletaSummer visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly Jan–Aug · 0.00% in Jan
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 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