Birds to See in Michigan in January
96 bird species on our list for Michigan are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow and White-breasted Nuthatch.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanAt their peak
American Tree SparrowBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
GoldeneyeBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
American Black DuckBusiest month of the year · Jul–Apr
Rough-legged HawkBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Snowy OwlBusiest month of the year · Nov–Mar
Great Black-backed GullBusiest month of the year · Sep–Apr
From Michigan’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 96 birds in January
96 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.51% in Jan
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 4.50% in Jan
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.45% in Jan
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 4.09% in Jan
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 4.05% in Jan
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 3.69% in Jan
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.42% in Jan
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 3.16% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.96% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.91% in Jan
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.86% in Jan
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.38% in Jan- American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 2.29% in Jan
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Jan
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Jan
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Jan- GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.45% in Jan
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Jan
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Jan
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Jan
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Jan
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Jan
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Jan
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Jan
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Jan
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Jan
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Jan- American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.55% in Jan
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Jan
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Jan
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Jan- Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.45% in Jan
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Jan
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentCommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Jan
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.39% in Jan
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Jan
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.38% in Jan- Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorUncommon52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.38% in Jan
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.34% in Jan
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Jan
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.33% in Jan
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.30% in Jan- Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.29% in Jan
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.26% in Jan
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Jan
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.10% in Jan
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.10% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.09% in Jan
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Jan
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in Jan
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in Jan
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.08% in Jan
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.07% in Jan
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Jan
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Jan
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Jan
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.05% in Jan
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentRare21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Jan
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Jan
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.03% in Jan
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.03% in Jan
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.03% in Jan
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Jan
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentRare30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Jan
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusWinter visitorRare20–26 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in Jan
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaPassage migrantRare37–41 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