Birds to See in California in January
174 bird species on our list for California are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-crowned Sparrow, House Finch, American Crow and Red-tailed Hawk. New this month: Magnolia Warbler.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanAt their peak
Ring-billed GullBusiest month of the year · All year
Northern ShovelerBusiest month of the year · All year
Eurasian TealBusiest month of the year · Aug–Jun
Black-necked GrebeBusiest month of the year · All year
GoldeneyeBusiest month of the year · Nov–Apr
Northern PintailBusiest month of the year · All year
From California’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 174 birds in January
174 birds
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.63% in Jan
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.49% in Jan
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.29% in Jan
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Jan
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Jan
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 1.63% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Jan
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Jan
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Jan
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Jan
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Jan
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Jan
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Jan
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Jan
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaWinter visitorCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Jan
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Jan
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Jan
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisResidentCommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Jan
Nuttall's WoodpeckerDryobates nuttalliiResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Jan
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsResidentCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Jan
Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusResidentCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Jan- Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Jan- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Jan
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Jan
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Jan
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.66% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Jan
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentCommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Jan- Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.54% in Jan
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Jan
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Jan
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Jan
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Jan- Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Jan
- GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.47% in Jan
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentCommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Jan
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Jan
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Jan- Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Jan
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.41% in Jan
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentCommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Jan
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataResidentUncommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Jan
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaResidentUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Jan
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.34% in Jan
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaResidentUncommon15–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Jan
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.31% in Jan
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraResidentUncommon36–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Jan
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Jan
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Jan
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Jan
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Jan
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.24% in Jan
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentUncommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Jan
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Jan
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.23% in Jan
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.23% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentUncommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jan
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentUncommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jan
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentUncommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jan
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.21% in Jan
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.20% in Jan
Common LoonGavia immerResidentUncommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Jan
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Jan
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.19% in Jan
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.17% in Jan
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.17% in Jan
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Jan
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.16% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.15% in Jan
Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruberResidentUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.13% in Jan
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Jan
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.09% in Jan
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaWinter visitorUncommon19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Jan
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Jan
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Jan
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesResidentUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Jan
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaResidentUncommon58–74 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Jan
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentUncommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Jan
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusWinter visitorUncommon20–26 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.06% in Jan
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusResidentUncommon8–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentUncommon52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisResidentUncommon26–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentRare46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
California GnatcatcherPolioptila californicaResidentUncommon10–11 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.04% in Jan
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.04% in Jan
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Jan
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisResidentRare16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Jan
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorRare37–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusResidentRare13–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.02% in Jan
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiResidentRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorRare19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentUncommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisWinter visitorRare19–21 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.02% in Jan
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorRare12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Jan
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentRare58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentRare23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Jan
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in Jan
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
White-headed WoodpeckerPicoides albolarvatusSummer visitorUncommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
California CondorGymnogyps californianusResidentRare109–140 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorRare37–41 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Jan
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaWinter visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Jan
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataWinter visitorRare41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesResidentRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorRare139–157 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusSummer visitorRare21–25 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorRare11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Jan
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusResidentRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaSummer visitorRare16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaWinter visitorRare10–13 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in Jan
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorRare40–47 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaWinter visitorRare10–14 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorRare52–64 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Gila WoodpeckerMelanerpes uropygialisResidentRare20–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisResidentRare20–24 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorRare87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusWinter visitorRare18–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in Jan
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorRare20–32 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusWinter visitorRare28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.00% in Jan
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentRare38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaWinter visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.00% in Jan
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensWinter visitorRare11–12 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Jan
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusPassage migrantRare38–44 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.00% in Jan
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisWinter visitorRare12–15 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.00% in Jan
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorRare12–15 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.00% in Jan
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorRare18–22 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentRare43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantRare34–44 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorRare14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.00% in Jan
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentRare12–13 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.00% in Jan
Vega GullLarus vegaeWinter visitorRare55–67 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 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