Birds to See in Pennsylvania in January
108 bird species on our list for Pennsylvania are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, American Crow, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay and Red-bellied Woodpecker.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanAt their peak
Ring-billed GullBusiest month of the year · All year
American Black DuckBusiest month of the year · Aug–Apr
American Herring GullBusiest month of the year · All year
Great Black-backed GullBusiest month of the year · Jul–Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullBusiest month of the year · Sep–Apr
Cackling GooseBusiest month of the year · Oct–Mar
From Pennsylvania’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 108 birds in January
108 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.85% in Jan
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.98% in Jan
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 3.87% in Jan
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.73% in Jan
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.46% in Jan
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 3.36% in Jan
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.33% in Jan
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.19% in Jan
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.07% in Jan
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.01% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.95% in Jan
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.89% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.30% in Jan
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.15% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.09% in Jan
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.07% in Jan
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Jan
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Jan
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Jan- Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Jan
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Jan
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Jan
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Jan
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Jan
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Jan- American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.57% in Jan
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.56% in Jan- American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Jan
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Jan
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Jan
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.46% in Jan
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.33% in Jan
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.32% in Jan
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.32% in Jan
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.31% in Jan
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Jan
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Jan
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Jan
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Jan
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jan- Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.23% in Jan
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.22% in Jan
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.22% in Jan
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jan
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.20% in Jan
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.20% in Jan- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.19% in Jan
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Jan
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jan
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Jan
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.16% in Jan
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.15% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.15% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.14% in Jan
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.14% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.12% in Jan
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Jan- Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.09% in Jan
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.06% in Jan
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in Jan
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.05% in Jan
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorRare80–100 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.04% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Jan
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Jan
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in Jan
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorRare52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Jan
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorRare11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Jan
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Jan
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorUncommon50–90 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.03% in Jan
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Jan
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorRare64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Jan
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Jan
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.02% in Jan
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorRare52–71 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.02% in Jan
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentRare139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantRare60–75 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentRare30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Jan
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaResidentRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Jan
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantRare58–70 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorRare53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.00% in Jan
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.00% in Jan
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorRare81–94 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
ChukarAlectoris chukarWinter visitorRare32–38 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 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