Birds to See in Rhode Island in January
109 bird species on our list for Rhode Island are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are American Herring Gull, Canada Goose, Song Sparrow, Ring-billed Gull and American Crow. New this month: Dickcissel, Red-headed Woodpecker and Tufted Duck.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanArriving
At their peak
From Rhode Island’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 109 birds in January
109 birds
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 3.97% in Jan
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.54% in Jan
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.24% in Jan
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 2.62% in Jan
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in Jan
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.51% in Jan
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in Jan
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 2.43% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.32% in Jan
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.28% in Jan
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 2.21% in Jan
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Jan
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Jan
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 1.87% in Jan
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Jan
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Jan
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Jan
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.60% in Jan
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 1.57% in Jan
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Jan
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Jan
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Jan
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Jan
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Jan
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Jan
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Jan
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorCommon80–100 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.98% in Jan
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Jan
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorCommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.85% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.85% in Jan
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.84% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.77% in Jan
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.73% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.65% in Jan
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.64% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Jan
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Jan
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.55% in Jan
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.54% in Jan
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Jan
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Jan
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.47% in Jan
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Jan
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Jan
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.37% in Jan
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorUncommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Jan
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.36% in Jan
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.35% in Jan
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Jan
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaResidentUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Jan
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.28% in Jan
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Jan
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Jan
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Jan
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.22% in Jan
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.22% in Jan
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.22% in Jan
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.22% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.21% in Jan
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.19% in Jan
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jan
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.18% in Jan
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.18% in Jan
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.17% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.16% in Jan
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.15% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.15% in Jan
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.15% in Jan
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.14% in Jan
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.13% in Jan
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.12% in Jan
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorUncommon52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.11% in Jan
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.08% in Jan
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.08% in Jan
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.08% in Jan
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.07% in Jan
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Jan
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.07% in Jan
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.06% in Jan
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusPassage migrantUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.06% in Jan
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Jan
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Jan
King EiderSomateria spectabilisWinter visitorUncommon46–64 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.05% in Jan
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Jan
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.05% in Jan
Little AukAlle alleWinter visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.05% in Jan
DickcisselSpiza americanaPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Aug–Jan · 0.05% in Jan
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Jan
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Jan
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.04% in Jan
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorRare16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleWinter visitorUncommon30–32 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.03% in Jan
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentRare20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaPassage migrantRare40–47 cmRegularly Jan · 0.03% in Jan
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.02% 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