Birds to See in South Carolina in January
125 bird species on our list for South Carolina are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Tufted Titmouse, American Crow and Red-bellied Woodpecker. New this month: Whimbrel, Common Merganser, Great Cormorant and Razorbill.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanArriving
At their peak
Ring-billed GullBusiest month of the year · All year
Pied-billed GrebeBusiest month of the year · Jun–Apr
Hooded MerganserBusiest month of the year · Nov–Mar
Bonaparte's GullBusiest month of the year · Nov–Apr
American Herring GullBusiest month of the year · All year
Common LoonBusiest month of the year · Nov–Apr
From South 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 125 birds in January
125 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.39% in Jan
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 2.78% in Jan
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.54% in Jan
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.42% in Jan
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in Jan
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in Jan
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in Jan
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in Jan
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 2.06% in Jan
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Jan
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Jan
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Jan
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in Jan
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Jan
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Jan
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Jan
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaWinter visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.30% in Jan- Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Jan
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Jan
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Jan
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 1.19% in Jan
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Jan- Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.91% in Jan
- Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.89% in Jan
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Jan
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Jan
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Jan
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Jan
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.73% in Jan
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentCommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Jan
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Jan
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.66% in Jan
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Jan
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.55% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Jan- Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.49% in Jan
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentCommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Jan
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.44% in Jan
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Jan
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Jan
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Jan
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.37% in Jan
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Jan
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.36% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Jan- American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Jan
- Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.34% in Jan
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Jan
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Jan
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.31% in Jan
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.30% in Jan
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Jan
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Jan
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Jan
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.26% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.24% in Jan
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.22% in Jan
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.22% in Jan
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jan
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jan
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.22% in Jan
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.20% in Jan
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Jan
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jan
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.15% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.14% in Jan
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.14% in Jan
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusResidentUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.13% in Jan
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesResidentUncommon23–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in Jan
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.09% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.09% in Jan
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Jan
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.08% in Jan
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaWinter visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentUncommon48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Jan
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentUncommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorRare80–122 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.05% in Jan
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Jan
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Jan
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Jan
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisWinter visitorRare20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Jan
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.03% in Jan
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.03% in Jan
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.03% in Jan
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorRare39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.03% in Jan
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Jan
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentRare16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.03% in Jan
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Jan
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorRare40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorRare54–59 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Jan
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserPassage migrantRare58–68 cmRegularly Jan–Jun · 0.01% in Jan
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusPassage migrantRare34–43 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Jan
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusWinter visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Jan
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorRare64–81 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorRare20–22 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxSummer visitorRare54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.01% in Jan
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorRare37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusWinter visitorRare41–46 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorRare50–71 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.00% in Jan
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboPassage migrantRare80–100 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
RazorbillAlca tordaPassage migrantRare38–43 cmRegularly 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