Birds to See in New Jersey in January
133 bird species on our list for New Jersey are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are Canada Goose, Northern Cardinal, Song Sparrow, Mallard and Mourning Dove. New this month: Nashville Warbler, Dickcissel, Black Guillemot and Pacific Loon 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 · Nov–Apr
Brent GooseBusiest month of the year · Oct–May
Common LoonBusiest month of the year · Oct–Jun
Long-tailed DuckBusiest month of the year · Nov–Apr
From New Jersey’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
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.63% in Jan
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.94% in Jan
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.45% in Jan
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in Jan
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in Jan
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.38% in Jan- Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 2.31% in Jan
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in Jan
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in Jan
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.09% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Jan
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Jan
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Jan
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Jan
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Jan
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Jan
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Jan- American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Jan
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Jan
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Jan
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Jan- Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 1.17% in Jan
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Jan
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.08% in Jan
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Jan
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Jan
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.90% in Jan- Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.89% in Jan
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Jan- Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.83% in Jan
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.80% in Jan- Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.77% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Jan
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Jan
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.64% in Jan
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.60% in Jan
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Jan
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.48% in Jan
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Jan
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.44% in Jan
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.43% in Jan
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Jan
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.42% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.41% in Jan
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.39% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.38% in Jan
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.37% in Jan
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.36% in Jan
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.33% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Jan
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.32% in Jan
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Jan
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.29% in Jan
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.27% in Jan
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.26% in Jan
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.26% in Jan
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorCommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Jan
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Jan
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.24% in Jan
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.24% in Jan
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.23% in Jan
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.23% in Jan
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorCommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.22% in Jan
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jan
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.20% in Jan
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Jan
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Jan
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.19% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.19% in Jan
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.17% in Jan
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jan
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.14% in Jan
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.10% in Jan
Little AukAlle alleWinter visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Dec–Jun · 0.10% in Jan
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.09% in Jan
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Jan
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.08% in Jan
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in Jan
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Jan
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.08% in Jan
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.07% in Jan
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.07% in Jan
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
King EiderSomateria spectabilisWinter visitorUncommon46–64 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.06% in Jan
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Jan
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.05% in Jan
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorRare38–44 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.04% in Jan
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorRare139–157 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.04% in Jan
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.04% in Jan
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorRare52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.03% in Jan
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.03% in Jan
Black GuillemotCepphus gryllePassage migrantRare30–32 cmRegularly Jan · 0.03% in Jan
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.03% in Jan
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Jun–Feb · 0.03% in Jan
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Jan
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.02% in Jan
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentRare43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentRare29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.02% in Jan
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Jan
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.02% in Jan
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.02% in Jan
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.02% in Jan
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorRare58–70 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.02% in Jan
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.02% in Jan
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaPassage migrantRare58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in Jan
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.00% in Jan
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Jan
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusSummer visitorRare86–230 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 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