Birds to See in Connecticut in January
118 bird species on our list for Connecticut are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, Northern Cardinal, Downy Woodpecker and Canada Goose. New this month: Cape May Warbler, Common Gull, Common Redpoll and Black-necked Grebe and 1 more.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanArriving
At their peak
Ring-billed GullBusiest month of the year · All year
American Black DuckBusiest month of the year · All year
Hooded MerganserBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Red-breasted MerganserBusiest month of the year · Nov–Apr
Common LoonBusiest month of the year · All year
GoldeneyeBusiest month of the year · Nov–Mar
From Connecticut’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 118 birds in January
118 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.37% in Jan
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 3.29% in Jan
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.28% in Jan
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 3.27% in Jan
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.01% in Jan
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.96% in Jan
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.90% in Jan
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.90% in Jan
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.70% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.58% in Jan
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.50% in Jan
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.42% in Jan- Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 2.30% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.24% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Jan
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in Jan- American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Jan
- Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.65% in Jan
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Jan
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Jan- Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 1.27% in Jan
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Jan
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Jan
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Jan- Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Jan
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Jan
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Jan- GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.93% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Jan
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Jan
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Jan
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Jan
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Jan
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.72% in Jan
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Jan
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.59% in Jan
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.51% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.47% in Jan
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.45% in Jan
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Jan
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.43% in Jan
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Jan
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusResidentCommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Jan
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Jan
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.36% in Jan
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.34% in Jan
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.31% in Jan
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.27% in Jan
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Jan
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.25% in Jan
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jan
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.21% in Jan
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.20% in Jan
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.20% in Jan
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Jan
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Jan
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.18% in Jan
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.17% in Jan
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jan
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jan
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.13% in Jan
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.12% in Jan
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.12% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.11% in Jan
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.11% in Jan
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.10% in Jan
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Jan
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.10% in Jan
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.10% in Jan
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Jan
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.08% in Jan
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.08% in Jan
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in Jan
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.07% in Jan
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Jan
Common GullLarus canusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.06% in Jan
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.06% in Jan
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Jan
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.05% in Jan
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Jan
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentRare16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusWinter visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Jan
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorRare40–47 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.04% in Jan
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Jan
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusPassage migrantRare52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.04% in Jan
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.03% in Jan
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.03% in Jan
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.03% in Jan
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.03% in Jan
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Jan
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Jan
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.03% in Jan
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorUncommon58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.03% in Jan
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorRare38–44 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Jan–Feb · 0.02% in Jan
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.02% in Jan
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorRare120–150 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
DickcisselSpiza americanaPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Aug–Jan · 0.02% in Jan
King EiderSomateria spectabilisPassage migrantRare46–64 cmRegularly Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Northern GannetMorus bassanusPassage migrantUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaPassage migrantRare16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 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