Birds to See in Japan in January
134 bird species on our list for Japan are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are Pied Wagtail, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Carrion Crow, Coot and Great Cormorant. New this month: Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone, Iceland Gull and Common Raven and 1 more.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanArriving
At their peak
From Japan’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 134 birds in January
134 birds
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 3.06% in Jan
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.74% in Jan
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.59% in Jan
CootFulica atraWinter visitorCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in Jan
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in Jan
Dusky ThrushTurdus eunomusWinter visitorCommon23–25 cmRegularly Oct–May · 2.23% in Jan
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 2.20% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.97% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Jan
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.76% in Jan
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Jan
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Jan
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Jan
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorCommon40–47 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.23% in Jan
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Jan
Japanese WagtailMotacilla grandisResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Jan
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Jan
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Jan
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusWinter visitorCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Jan
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.86% in Jan
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.85% in Jan
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Jan
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Jan
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorCommon38–44 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.70% in Jan
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Jan
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.64% in Jan
Greater ScaupAythya marilaResidentCommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Jan
Blue Rock-thrushMonticola solitariusResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Jan
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Jan
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.44% in Jan
SmewMergellus albellusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.42% in Jan
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Jan
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.40% in Jan
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentUncommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Jan
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.38% in Jan
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentUncommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Jan
Red-flanked BluetailTarsiger cyanurusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Jan
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaWinter visitorUncommon66–94 cmRegularly Aug–Feb · 0.32% in Jan
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.32% in Jan
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.30% in Jan
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Jan
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.29% in Jan
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.29% in Jan
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.29% in Jan
Steller's Sea-eagleHaliaeetus pelagicusWinter visitorUncommon85–105 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.29% in Jan
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Jan
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Jan
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusWinter visitorUncommon28–31 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.26% in Jan
Black-tailed GullLarus crassirostrisSummer visitorCommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jan
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentCommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jan
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jan
Vega GullLarus vegaeWinter visitorUncommon55–67 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.21% in Jan
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.20% in Jan
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaWinter visitorUncommon58–67 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.20% in Jan
RookCorvus frugilegusWinter visitorUncommon45–47 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.19% in Jan
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jan
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jan
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.18% in Jan
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.18% in Jan
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Jan
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.16% in Jan
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaWinter visitorUncommon80–90 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.14% in Jan
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.14% in Jan
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.14% in Jan
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.13% in Jan
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.13% in Jan
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.11% in Jan
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.10% in Jan
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Jan
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in Jan
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.08% in Jan
Japanese WaxwingBombycilla japonicaWinter visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in Jan
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Taiga Bean GooseAnser fabalisWinter visitorUncommon68–88 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Jan
Common CraneGrus grusWinter visitorUncommon100–130 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.06% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.06% in Jan
CurlewNumenius arquataWinter visitorUncommon50–60 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Jan
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorUncommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Jan
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.05% in Jan
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentUncommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in Jan
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaResidentRare33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.04% in Jan
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostrisWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Jan
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisWinter visitorUncommon21–23 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Jan
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.03% in Jan
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Jan
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorUncommon81–94 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Jan
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.03% in Jan
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Jan
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.03% in Jan
WryneckJynx torquillaResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaWinter visitorRare58–77 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.02% in Jan
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Jan
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Jan
Crested MynaAcridotheres cristatellusResidentRare24–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.02% in Jan
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorRare55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Jan
Long-eared OwlAsio otusResidentRare35–40 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.02% in Jan
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Jan
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorRare58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.02% in Jan
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaWinter visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaWinter visitorRare42–45 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Jan
Purple HeronArdea purpureaSummer visitorRare78–90 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.01% in Jan
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisResidentRare69–81 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.01% in Jan
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaWinter visitorRare53–57 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
GarganeySpatula querquedulaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in Jan
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.01% in Jan
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusWinter visitorRare10–11 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Jan
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantRare15–16 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorRare69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusWinter visitorUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Jan
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Greylag GooseAnser anserPassage migrantRare75–90 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusSummer visitorRare86–230 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesPassage migrantRare52–60 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxPassage migrantRare54–67 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 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