Birds to See in Colorado in January
109 bird species on our list for Colorado are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are House Finch, Canada Goose, Northern Flicker, Mallard and Red-tailed Hawk. New this month: Boreal Owl, Acorn Woodpecker and Muscovy Duck.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanArriving
At their peak
GoldeneyeBusiest month of the year · Nov–Apr
Bald EagleBusiest month of the year · All year
Common MerganserBusiest month of the year · All year
Hooded MerganserBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
American Herring GullBusiest month of the year · Sep–Apr
Rough-legged HawkBusiest month of the year · Nov–Apr
From Colorado’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 109 birds in January
109 birds
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 3.89% in Jan
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.60% in Jan
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 3.47% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 3.08% in Jan
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.99% in Jan
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.85% in Jan
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.57% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.49% in Jan- GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 2.27% in Jan
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in Jan
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in Jan
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Jan
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.85% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Jan
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorCommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 1.77% in Jan
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Jan
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Jan
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Jan- Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Jan- Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Jan
- Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.43% in Jan
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in Jan
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Jan
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 1.06% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.83% in Jan
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.72% in Jan
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Jan
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Jan
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Jan
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Jan
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorCommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Jan
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Jan- American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.43% in Jan
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraSummer visitorCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Jan
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Jan
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.33% in Jan
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Jan- Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.28% in Jan
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.27% in Jan
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jan
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.23% in Jan
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jan
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Jan
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Jan
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.17% in Jan
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Jan
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.16% in Jan
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jan
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jan
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.14% in Jan
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Jan
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.11% in Jan
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Jan
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.10% in Jan
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.09% in Jan
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Jan
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Jan
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorUncommon139–157 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.08% in Jan
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Jan
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.07% in Jan
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Jan
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Jan
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisResidentUncommon26–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaPassage migrantUncommon58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.04% in Jan
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantRare55–66 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.04% in Jan
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisWinter visitorRare16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaSummer visitorUncommon15–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorRare19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.04% in Jan
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.03% in Jan
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.03% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.03% in Jan
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiWinter visitorRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.02% in Jan
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusResidentRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentRare23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Jan
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorRare16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentRare21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentRare52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusWinter visitorRare8–12 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusWinter visitorRare20–26 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusSummer visitorRare21–28 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.00% in Jan
Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusSummer visitorRare20–24 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.00% in Jan
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataSummer visitorRare66–84 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.00% in Jan
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 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