Birds to See in Delaware in February
113 bird species on our list for Delaware are recorded regularly in February
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Turkey Vulture, Canada Goose, Song Sparrow and Red-winged Blackbird. New this month: Kittiwake, Atlantic Puffin, Painted Bunting and Eurasian Collared Dove.
On the move in February
GBIF · FebArriving
At their peak
Northern PintailBusiest month of the year · Sep–Apr
Common MerganserBusiest month of the year · Dec–Apr
RazorbillBusiest month of the year · Dec–Mar
Horned LarkBusiest month of the year · All year
American BitternBusiest month of the year · Aug–May
American Tree SparrowBusiest month of the year · Nov–Mar
From Delaware’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 113 birds in February
113 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.17% in Feb
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.94% in Feb
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.93% in Feb
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.78% in Feb
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.77% in Feb
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.55% in Feb
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in Feb
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in Feb
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in Feb
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in Feb
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in Feb
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in Feb
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Feb
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Feb
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Feb
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Feb
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Feb
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Feb
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Feb
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Feb
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Feb
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in Feb
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Feb
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorCommon69–84 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 1.27% in Feb
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.16% in Feb
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Feb
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Feb
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Feb
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Feb- Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.97% in Feb
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Feb
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.81% in Feb
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.80% in Feb
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.79% in Feb
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.77% in Feb
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorCommon120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.74% in Feb
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Feb
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.64% in Feb
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.64% in Feb- Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.61% in Feb
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.60% in Feb
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.54% in Feb
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Feb
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Feb
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Feb
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Feb
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.49% in Feb
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.45% in Feb
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.45% in Feb
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Feb
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Feb
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Feb
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Feb- RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.36% in Feb
- Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Feb
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Feb
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.33% in Feb
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.33% in Feb
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.27% in Feb
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.26% in Feb
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Feb
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.26% in Feb
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.23% in Feb
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Feb
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.19% in Feb
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Feb
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Feb
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.18% in Feb
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Feb
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorCommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.17% in Feb
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Feb
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Feb
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.15% in Feb
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.15% in Feb
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentCommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Feb
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaPassage migrantUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.13% in Feb
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.13% in Feb
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.13% in Feb
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.13% in Feb
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Feb
Little AukAlle allePassage migrantUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Jan–Feb · 0.12% in Feb
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.11% in Feb- American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.09% in Feb
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Feb
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.09% in Feb
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Feb
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaScarceUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb · 0.08% in Feb- American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.08% in Feb
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in Feb
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorCommon23–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Feb
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.07% in Feb
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.06% in Feb
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Feb
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoSummer visitorUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Feb
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Feb
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Feb
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in Feb
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.05% in Feb
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.05% in Feb
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorUncommon54–67 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.04% in Feb
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Feb
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorRare38–44 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.03% in Feb
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Feb
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.02% in Feb
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Feb
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.02% in Feb
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.02% in Feb
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.01% in Feb
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaResidentRare40–50 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.01% in Feb
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Feb
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusPassage migrantRare52–71 cmRegularly Jan–Feb · 0.01% in Feb
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoScarceRare30–32 cmRegularly Feb · 0.00% in Feb
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.00% in Feb
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