Birds to See in Wales in January
157 bird species on our list for Wales are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are European Robin, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit and European Herring Gull. New this month: Ruff, Little Owl, Glossy Ibis and Smew and 1 more.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanArriving
At their peak
From Wales’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 157 birds in January
157 birds
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.58% in Jan
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 3.51% in Jan
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.37% in Jan
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 3.03% in Jan
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.97% in Jan
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.92% in Jan
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.77% in Jan
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 2.43% in Jan
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.35% in Jan
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in Jan
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.11% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.09% in Jan
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Jan
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Jan
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Jan
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Jan
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Jan
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Jan
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Jan
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Jan
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Jan
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Jan
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Jan
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Jan
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Jan
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Jan
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Jan
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Jan
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Jan
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 1.08% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Jan
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Jan
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Jan
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Jan
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Jan
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.95% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Jan
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Jan
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Jan
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Jan
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Jan
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Jan
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Jan
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Jan
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Jan
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Jan
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Jan
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Jan
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Jan
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Jan
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Jan
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Jan
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Jan
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Jan
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Jan
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Jan
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Jan
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Jan
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Jan
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Jan
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Jan
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.46% in Jan
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.45% in Jan
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Jan
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Jan
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Jan
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.42% in Jan
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Jan
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Jan
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Jan
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Jan
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Jan
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentUncommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.29% in Jan
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Jan
Water RailRallus aquaticusWinter visitorCommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Jan
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.25% in Jan
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.24% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Jan
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Jan
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentUncommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Jan
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jan
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jan
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jan
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jan
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jan
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jan
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.19% in Jan
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.19% in Jan
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentUncommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Jan
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorUncommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jan
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jan
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentUncommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jan
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jan
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.16% in Jan
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jan
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxSummer visitorCommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jan
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.14% in Jan
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.13% in Jan
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentUncommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.12% in Jan
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusPassage migrantUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Sep–Jan · 0.09% in Jan
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.09% in Jan
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Jan
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.09% in Jan
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.09% in Jan
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in Jan
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Jan
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Jan
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentUncommon30–32 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.05% in Jan
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorRare64–81 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.05% in Jan
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.05% in Jan
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Jan
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaWinter visitorUncommon9–10 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Jan
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.04% in Jan
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaResidentUncommon80–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusResidentUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.04% in Jan
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisResidentUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Jan
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentRare11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Cattle EgretArdea ibisWinter visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.02% in Jan
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Jan–Aug · 0.02% in Jan
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentRare44–51 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.02% in Jan
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisResidentUncommon69–81 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.02% in Jan
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
SmewMergellus albellusPassage migrantRare38–44 cmRegularly Jan · 0.02% in Jan
Little OwlAthene noctuaSummer visitorRare21–23 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.02% in Jan
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaWinter visitorUncommon58–77 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.02% in Jan
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentUncommon42–45 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.02% in Jan
Great Grey ShrikeLanius excubitorWinter visitorRare22–26 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaSummer visitorUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaWinter visitorUncommon51–58 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusWinter visitorUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisWinter visitorUncommon52–68 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensResidentRare69–84 cmRegularly Jan · 0.01% in Jan
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisResidentRare13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% 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