Birds to See in Washington in January
123 bird species on our list for Washington are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are Song Sparrow, American Crow, Mallard, American Robin and Bald Eagle. New this month: Cinnamon Teal and Tufted Duck.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanAt their peak
GoldeneyeBusiest month of the year · Nov–Apr
Common MerganserBusiest month of the year · All year
Surf ScoterBusiest month of the year · All year
Red-breasted MerganserBusiest month of the year · Oct–May
Northern PintailBusiest month of the year · Aug–May
Trumpeter SwanBusiest month of the year · Oct–Mar
From Washington’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 123 birds in January
123 birds
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.50% in Jan
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.27% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.76% in Jan
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.55% in Jan
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in Jan
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.37% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in Jan
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Jan
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in Jan
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Jan
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 1.53% in Jan
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Jan
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Jan
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.15% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Jan
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.91% in Jan
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Jan
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorCommon15–19 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.86% in Jan
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Jan
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Jan
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsResidentCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.84% in Jan
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Jan
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusResidentCommon8–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Jan
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusWinter visitorCommon20–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Jan
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Jan
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.78% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.75% in Jan
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorCommon139–157 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.68% in Jan
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Jan
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Jan
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorCommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.55% in Jan
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Jan
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Jan
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Jan
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.44% in Jan
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Jan
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.36% in Jan
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Jan
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.35% in Jan
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentCommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Jan
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.31% in Jan
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Jan
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.26% in Jan
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.24% in Jan
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisResidentUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Jan
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.23% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.21% in Jan
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jan
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.21% in Jan
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Jan
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorUncommon58–74 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Jan
Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruberResidentUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Jan
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentUncommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Jan
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jan
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Jan
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.15% in Jan
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.15% in Jan
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.12% in Jan
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Jan
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in Jan
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.09% in Jan
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Jan
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.07% in Jan
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.04% in Jan
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.04% in Jan
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jan
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.04% in Jan
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Jan
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorRare14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Jan
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaSummer visitorUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentRare28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentUncommon58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jan
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraSummer visitorUncommon36–43 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.02% in Jan
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorRare52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.02% in Jan
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorRare12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Jan
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jan
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataWinter visitorRare25–30 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisResidentRare12–15 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in Jan
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentRare58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
White-headed WoodpeckerPicoides albolarvatusResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Jan
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiResidentRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusResidentRare20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorRare52–64 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Jan
WilletTringa semipalmataWinter visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Jan
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Jan
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisSummer visitorUncommon26–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jan
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.01% in Jan
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Jan
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosWinter visitorRare21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorRare37–41 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in Jan
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaPassage migrantRare40–47 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.00% in Jan
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jan
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in Jan
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiPassage migrantRare57–64 cmRegularly Oct–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

