Birds to See in Massachusetts in January
133 bird species on our list for Massachusetts are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, American Crow, Downy Woodpecker and Tufted Titmouse. New this month: Black-crowned Night-heron, Trumpeter Swan, Varied Thrush and Common Gull and 1 more.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanArriving
At their peak
From Massachusetts’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 133 birds in January
133 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.67% in Jan
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.34% in Jan
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.17% in Jan
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 3.13% in Jan
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.06% in Jan
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.85% in Jan
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.81% in Jan
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.79% in Jan
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.77% in Jan
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.62% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.58% in Jan
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.29% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.10% in Jan
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Jan
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Jan
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in Jan
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Jan
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Jan
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Jan
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.50% in Jan
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Jan
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.26% in Jan
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 1.19% in Jan
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Jan
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Jan
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Jan
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Jan
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Jan
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.82% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.82% in Jan
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.82% in Jan
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.80% in Jan
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Jan
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Jan
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Jan
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.46% in Jan
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Jan
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.38% in Jan
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.37% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.37% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.35% in Jan
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Jan
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.32% in Jan
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Jan
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Jan
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.27% in Jan
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jan
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jan
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jan
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.22% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.22% in Jan
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.19% in Jan
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.19% in Jan
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jan
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jan
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.18% in Jan
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Jan
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.17% in Jan
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.17% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Jan
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.15% in Jan
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jan
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorUncommon52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.15% in Jan
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.14% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusResidentUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.13% in Jan
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.13% in Jan
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.12% in Jan
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.12% in Jan
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.11% in Jan
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in Jan
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleWinter visitorUncommon30–32 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.09% in Jan
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.07% in Jan
Little AukAlle alleWinter visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.07% in Jan
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Jan
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.06% in Jan
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.06% in Jan
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.06% in Jan
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.06% in Jan
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.06% in Jan
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.05% in Jan
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Jan
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.04% in Jan
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Jan
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
King EiderSomateria spectabilisWinter visitorRare46–64 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.04% in Jan
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Jan
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorRare64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Jan
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorRare38–44 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.03% in Jan
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.03% in Jan
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Jan
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.03% in Jan
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusWinter visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.02% in Jan
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorRare40–47 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.02% in Jan
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorRare60–75 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorPassage migrantRare139–157 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Jan
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorRare58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jun–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentRare80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
DickcisselSpiza americanaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Jun–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusPassage migrantRare20–26 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Common GullLarus canusPassage migrantRare40–46 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiPassage migrantRare57–64 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusPassage migrantRare120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in Jan
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentRare58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
FulmarFulmarus glacialisPassage migrantUncommon45–50 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusWinter visitorRare29–31 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentRare53–63 cmRegularly Apr–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