Birds to See in New York in January
134 bird species on our list for New York are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Canada Goose, American Crow and Downy Woodpecker. New this month: Vesper Sparrow, Atlantic Puffin, Mountain Bluebird and Mandarin Duck.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanArriving
At their peak
Ring-billed GullBusiest month of the year · All year
American Herring GullBusiest month of the year · All year
Great Black-backed GullBusiest month of the year · All year
American Black DuckBusiest month of the year · All year
Red-breasted MerganserBusiest month of the year · Oct–May
Hooded MerganserBusiest month of the year · Oct–Jun
From New York’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 134 birds in January
134 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.63% in Jan
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.51% in Jan
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.49% in Jan
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.30% in Jan
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 3.16% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.93% in Jan- Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 2.82% in Jan
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.68% in Jan
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.67% in Jan- American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.58% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.57% in Jan
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in Jan
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.52% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in Jan
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in Jan- Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Jan
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Jan
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Jan
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Jan
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Jan- American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Jan
- Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.13% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Jan
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Jan- Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 1.09% in Jan
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Jan
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.96% in Jan
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Jan
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.91% in Jan
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.83% in Jan
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Jan
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Jan
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Jan
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.63% in Jan
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorCommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.61% in Jan
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Jan
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Jan
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.52% in Jan
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.43% in Jan
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.39% in Jan
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Jan
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusResidentCommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Jan
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Jan
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.25% in Jan
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jan
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.22% in Jan
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jan
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jan
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.22% in Jan
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.22% in Jan
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.21% in Jan
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jan
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.20% in Jan
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jan
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.17% in Jan
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.17% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.17% in Jan
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.16% in Jan
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.16% in Jan
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.16% in Jan
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jan
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.15% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jan
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.13% in Jan
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.13% in Jan
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.13% in Jan
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.13% in Jan
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.13% in Jan
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorUncommon52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.11% in Jan
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.10% in Jan
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.10% in Jan
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in Jan
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.07% in Jan
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in Jan
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.06% in Jan
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Jan
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Little AukAlle alleWinter visitorRare18–21 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.05% in Jan
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorRare64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Jan
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Jan
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentRare19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Jan
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.03% in Jan
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.03% in Jan
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorRare37–41 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.03% in Jan
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Jan–Feb · 0.03% in Jan
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.03% in Jan
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Jan
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorRare40–47 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorRare38–44 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Jan
King EiderSomateria spectabilisWinter visitorRare46–64 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.02% in Jan
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly Jan · 0.02% in Jan
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Jan
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusWinter visitorRare25–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantRare60–75 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorRare58–70 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.01% in Jan
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisWinter visitorRare12–13 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.01% in Jan
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.00% in Jan
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataPassage migrantRare41–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
DickcisselSpiza americanaPassage migrantRare14–16 cmRegularly Jun–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