Birds to See in Virginia in January
143 bird species on our list for Virginia are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, American Crow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse and Blue Jay. New this month: Lincoln's Sparrow, Little Auk, White-winged Dove and Black Swan and 1 more.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanArriving
At their peak
From Virginia’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 143 birds in January
143 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.02% in Jan
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.41% in Jan
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.85% in Jan
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.81% in Jan
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.80% in Jan
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.74% in Jan
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.58% in Jan
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.42% in Jan
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in Jan
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in Jan
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in Jan
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in Jan
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.09% in Jan
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Jan
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Jan
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.62% in Jan
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.54% in Jan
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Jan
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Jan
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Jan
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 1.05% in Jan
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.99% in Jan
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Jan
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Jan
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.88% in Jan
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Jan
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Jan
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Jan
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.66% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Jan
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.65% in Jan
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Jan
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.57% in Jan
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.51% in Jan
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.50% in Jan
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentUncommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Jan
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorUncommon54–59 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.43% in Jan
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Jan
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.35% in Jan
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.32% in Jan
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Jan
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.29% in Jan
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Jan
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.26% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Jan
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.23% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.23% in Jan
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.22% in Jan
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.21% in Jan
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Jan
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.18% in Jan
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.18% in Jan
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Jan
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.16% in Jan
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.15% in Jan
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.15% in Jan
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.14% in Jan
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.13% in Jan
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.10% in Jan
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.09% in Jan
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.09% in Jan
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.09% in Jan
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.08% in Jan
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.08% in Jan
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Jan
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentUncommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.06% in Jan
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.05% in Jan
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Jan
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.04% in Jan
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorRare139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Jan
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorRare64–81 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Jan
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Jan
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorRare20–22 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentRare30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorRare16–22 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.02% in Jan
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.02% in Jan
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorRare50–71 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorRare14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentRare20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorRare80–122 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.01% in Jan
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorRare14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorRare80–100 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Little AukAlle allePassage migrantRare18–21 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorRare52–60 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Jan
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Jan · 0.01% in Jan
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.00% in Jan
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.00% in Jan
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorRare43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.00% in Jan
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
Red JunglefowlGallus gallusResidentRare42–75 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in Jan
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
Black SwanCygnus atratusPassage migrantRare110–142 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusPassage migrantRare30–38 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorRare38–44 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.00% in Jan
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusPassage migrantRare17–21 cmRegularly Jun–Jan · 0.00% in Jan
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesPassage migrantRare81–94 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentRare53–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusSummer visitorRare86–230 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.00% in Jan
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in Jan
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 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