Birds to See in North Carolina in January
152 bird species on our list for North Carolina are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse, American Crow, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Eastern Bluebird. New this month: Nashville Warbler, Glossy Ibis, Little Auk and Little Gull and 3 more.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanArriving
At their peak
From North Carolina’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 152 birds in January
152 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.65% in Jan
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.04% in Jan
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.98% in Jan
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.70% in Jan
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in Jan
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in Jan
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in Jan
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in Jan
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 2.31% in Jan
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.21% in Jan
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.20% in Jan
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Jan
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Jan
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Jan
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Jan
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.62% in Jan
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Jan
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Jan
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.33% in Jan
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Jan
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.08% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Jan
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Jan
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Jan
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.77% in Jan
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.74% in Jan
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.72% in Jan
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Jan
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Jan
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Jan
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.60% in Jan
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.55% in Jan
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Jan
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.46% in Jan
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.46% in Jan
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Jan
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Jan
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Jan
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Jan
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentUncommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Jan
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.38% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Jan
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.34% in Jan
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.31% in Jan
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.31% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.30% in Jan
American Black DuckAnas rubripesResidentUncommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Jan
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Jan
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Jan
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.25% in Jan
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Jan
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.23% in Jan
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.22% in Jan
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jan
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.20% in Jan
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentUncommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Jan
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jan
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.15% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.14% in Jan
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.14% in Jan
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.14% in Jan
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.14% in Jan
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Jan
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaResidentUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Jan
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Jan
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaWinter visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in Jan
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.07% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in Jan
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Jan
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.05% in Jan
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentRare16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.04% in Jan
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorRare58–68 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.04% in Jan
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorRare80–122 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.03% in Jan
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Jan
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.03% in Jan
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorRare40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Jan
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.03% in Jan
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorRare50–71 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.03% in Jan
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Jan
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.02% in Jan
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaPassage migrantRare16–22 cmRegularly Jan–Apr · 0.02% in Jan
Little AukAlle allePassage migrantRare18–21 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentRare63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Jan
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorRare80–100 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.02% in Jan
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorRare37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorRare20–22 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorRare64–81 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorRare38–44 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.01% in Jan
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in Jan
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusWinter visitorRare41–46 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in Jan
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusWinter visitorRare30–38 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.01% in Jan
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorRare52–60 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in Jan
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentRare139–157 cmRegularly Jan–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusWinter visitorRare20–22 cmRegularly Dec–May · 0.01% in Jan
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorRare55–66 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.00% in Jan
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusResidentRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
King EiderSomateria spectabilisResidentRare46–64 cmRegularly Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorRare58–74 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaSummer visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusResidentRare15–16 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