Birds to See in Texas in January
161 bird species on our list for Texas are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Turkey Vulture and Ruby-crowned Kinglet. New this month: Lewis's Woodpecker and Mandarin Duck.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanAt their peak
Yellow-rumped WarblerBusiest month of the year · Oct–May
Orange-crowned WarblerBusiest month of the year · Sep–Apr
Pied-billed GrebeBusiest month of the year · All year
Ring-billed GullBusiest month of the year · Aug–May
Northern ShovelerBusiest month of the year · Aug–Jun
GadwallBusiest month of the year · Oct–May
From Texas’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 161 birds in January
161 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.99% in Jan
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in Jan- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 2.27% in Jan
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Jan
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 1.82% in Jan
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Jan
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Jan
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Jan
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Jan- Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 1.39% in Jan
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Jan
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Jan
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Jan
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Jan
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Jan- Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Jan
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Jan
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Jan
Golden-fronted WoodpeckerMelanerpes aurifronsResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Jan- Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.86% in Jan
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.81% in Jan
- GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.81% in Jan
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Jan
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisResidentCommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Jan
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.74% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Jan
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Jan
OspreyPandion haliaetusWinter visitorCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Jan
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Jan
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.58% in Jan
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.56% in Jan
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.54% in Jan
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaWinter visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.51% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.47% in Jan
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Jan
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Jan
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.40% in Jan
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Jan
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Jan
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.34% in Jan
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Jan
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.32% in Jan
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.30% in Jan
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.30% in Jan
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.28% in Jan
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.27% in Jan
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.26% in Jan
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Jan
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentCommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Jan
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaWinter visitorUncommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jan
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jan
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.23% in Jan
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jan
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.18% in Jan
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorUncommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Jan
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.17% in Jan
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Jan
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.16% in Jan
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.15% in Jan
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.14% in Jan
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.14% in Jan
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.13% in Jan
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentUncommon52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.12% in Jan
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraWinter visitorUncommon36–43 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.12% in Jan
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.10% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.10% in Jan
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.10% in Jan
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.10% in Jan
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentUncommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Jan
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.08% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.08% in Jan
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.08% in Jan
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.07% in Jan
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaWinter visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.06% in Jan
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in Jan
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Jan
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaResidentUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusWinter visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaResidentRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Jan
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorRare39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.04% in Jan
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusWinter visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Jan
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesWinter visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Jan
Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolorResidentUncommon45–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Jan
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensWinter visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Jan
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Jan
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Jan
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorUncommon33–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorRare31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Jan
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Jan
Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusSummer visitorUncommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorRare58–68 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Jan
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentRare18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesResidentRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorRare37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisWinter visitorRare19–21 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentRare66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Jan
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensWinter visitorRare11–13 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Jan
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorRare48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorRare52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorRare87–100 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusWinter visitorRare25–30 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorRare14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisPassage migrantRare26–28 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.00% in Jan
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorRare58–74 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in Jan
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusSummer visitorRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Ferruginous Pygmy-owlGlaucidium brasilianumWinter visitorRare15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.00% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataPassage migrantRare53–69 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorRare46–51 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiSummer visitorRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusWinter visitorRare21–25 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorRare120–150 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.00% in Jan
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisSummer visitorRare53–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataPassage migrantRare41–49 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.00% in Jan
Red JunglefowlGallus gallusResidentRare42–75 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantRare55–66 cmRegularly Dec–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