Birds to See in Alabama in January
125 bird species on our list for Alabama are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay and Tufted Titmouse. New this month: Tundra Swan, Cackling Goose, Trumpeter Swan and Red-necked Grebe and 2 more.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanArriving
At their peak
Ring-billed GullBusiest month of the year · Aug–Apr
Pied-billed GrebeBusiest month of the year · All year
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Bald EagleBusiest month of the year · All year
GadwallBusiest month of the year · Oct–Mar
Sandhill CraneBusiest month of the year · Nov–Feb
From Alabama’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 125 birds in January
125 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.82% in Jan
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.77% in Jan
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.61% in Jan
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.55% in Jan
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.52% in Jan
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.52% in Jan
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 2.51% in Jan
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.21% in Jan
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in Jan
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.11% in Jan
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.02% in Jan
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Jan
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Jan
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Jan
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.62% in Jan
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Jan
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Jan
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaWinter visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Jan- Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 1.23% in Jan
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Jan
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Jan- Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Jan
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Jan- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.92% in Jan
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Jan
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Jan
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.82% in Jan- Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Jan
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.71% in Jan- GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.62% in Jan
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Jan
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Jan
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.49% in Jan
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.48% in Jan- Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.47% in Jan
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.45% in Jan
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Jan
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Jan
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.42% in Jan
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.42% in Jan
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.40% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Jan
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Jan
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Jan
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.34% in Jan
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.32% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.30% in Jan
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.24% in Jan
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Jan
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.23% in Jan
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jan
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.22% in Jan
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jan
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jan
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jan
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.21% in Jan
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.20% in Jan
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.20% in Jan
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Jan
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentUncommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jan
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jan
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.16% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.16% in Jan
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jan
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.13% in Jan
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.12% in Jan
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.11% in Jan
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in Jan
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Jan
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.08% in Jan
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.07% in Jan
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in Jan
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Jan
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorRare87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Jan
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorRare54–59 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.04% in Jan
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Jan
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Jan
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorRare52–64 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Jan
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorRare64–79 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Jan
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Jan
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaWinter visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Jan
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusPassage migrantRare120–150 cmRegularly Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Jan
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaResidentRare17–20 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaResidentRare58–74 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaResidentRare40–50 cmRegularly Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Jan
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorRare53–69 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantRare48–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentRare28–34 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentRare23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiPassage migrantRare53–76 cmRegularly Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentRare53–63 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserPassage migrantRare58–68 cmRegularly Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentRare139–157 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.00% in Jan
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Aug–May · 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