Birds to See in Delaware in January
118 bird species on our list for Delaware are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are Canada Goose, Northern Cardinal, Song Sparrow, Turkey Vulture and Ring-billed Gull. New this month: Little Auk, Pink-footed Goose, Red-necked Grebe and Snowy Owl and 1 more.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanArriving
At their peak
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 118 birds in January
118 birds
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.77% in Jan
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.72% in Jan
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.65% in Jan
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.59% in Jan
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 2.37% in Jan
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 2.20% in Jan
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in Jan
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 2.10% in Jan
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Jan
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Jan
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Jan
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorCommon69–84 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 1.79% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Jan
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in Jan
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Jan
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Jan
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Jan
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Jan
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Jan
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Jan
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Jan
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Jan
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.14% in Jan
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.10% in Jan
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Jan
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.97% in Jan
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.93% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.92% in Jan
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Jan
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Jan
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Jan
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Jan
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Jan
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorCommon120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.84% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.79% in Jan
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Jan
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.69% in Jan
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.69% in Jan
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.66% in Jan
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.60% in Jan
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.55% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Jan
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Jan
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.51% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.49% in Jan
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.48% in Jan
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Jan
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Jan
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Jan
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Jan
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorCommon33–36 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.38% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.37% in Jan
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.37% in Jan
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.36% in Jan
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.36% in Jan
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Jan
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Jan
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Jan
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.34% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.31% in Jan
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.30% in Jan
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.30% in Jan
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Jan
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Jan
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.28% in Jan
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.25% in Jan
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.25% in Jan
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jan
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jan
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorCommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.20% in Jan
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jan
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.18% in Jan
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.17% in Jan
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Jan
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.14% in Jan
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentCommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.12% in Jan
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.12% in Jan
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.11% in Jan
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.10% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in Jan
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.09% 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 palustrisSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.07% in Jan
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.07% in Jan
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Jan
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.06% in Jan
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.06% in Jan
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Jan
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorCommon23–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in Jan
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaResidentRare40–50 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.04% in Jan
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorRare38–44 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.04% in Jan
Little AukAlle allePassage migrantUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Jan–Feb · 0.04% in Jan
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoSummer visitorUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.03% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorUncommon54–67 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.03% in Jan
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusPassage migrantRare52–71 cmRegularly Jan–Feb · 0.03% in Jan
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusResidentRare62–68 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.02% in Jan
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.02% in Jan
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.01% in Jan
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantRare64–81 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.01% in Jan
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusPassage migrantRare17–21 cmRegularly Nov–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