Birds in California in January: What to Photograph (60 Species)

60 birds were recorded seen in California in January in our iNaturalist sample; 26 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Top birds in January

Red-tailed Hawk11,557 obs.

White-crowned Sparrow9,396 obs.

Yellow-rumped Warbler7,220 obs.

Anna's Hummingbird7,172 obs.

American Coot6,968 obs.

Black Phoebe6,606 obs.

Great Egret6,213 obs.

Great Blue Heron6,183 obs.

Snowy Egret5,785 obs.

House Finch5,702 obs.

Mallard5,647 obs.

Western Gull5,364 obs.

All birds seen in California in January

#	Species	Scientific name	Family	Obs.	Peak in state
1	Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	11,557	Jan (peak)
2	White-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia leucophrys	New World Sparrows	9,396	Jan (peak)
3	Yellow-rumped Warbler	Setophaga coronata	New World Warblers	7,220	Jan (peak)
4	Anna's Hummingbird	Calypte anna	Hummingbirds	7,172	Apr (rising)
5	American Coot	Fulica americana	Rails, Gallinules, and Coots	6,968	Jan (peak)
6	Black Phoebe	Sayornis nigricans	Tyrant Flycatchers	6,606	Apr (rising)
7	Great Egret	Ardea alba	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	6,213	Jan (peak)
8	Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	6,183	Jan (peak)
9	Snowy Egret	Egretta thula	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	5,785	Jan (peak)
10	House Finch	Haemorhous mexicanus	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	5,702	Apr (rising)
11	Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	5,647	Apr (rising)
12	Western Gull	Larus occidentalis	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	5,364	Aug (rising)
13	Bufflehead	Bucephala albeola	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	5,017	Jan (peak)
14	California Scrub-Jay	Aphelocoma californica	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	4,976	Apr (rising)
15	Red-shouldered Hawk	Buteo lineatus	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	4,810	Jan (peak)
16	Double-crested Cormorant	Nannopterum auritum	Cormorants and Shags	4,583	Jan (peak)
17	American Wigeon	Mareca americana	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	4,504	Jan (peak)
18	Western Bluebird	Sialia mexicana	Thrushes	4,346	Apr (rising)
19	California Towhee	Melozone crissalis	New World Sparrows	4,337	Apr (rising)
20	Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	New World Sparrows	4,258	Apr (rising)
21	Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura	New World Vultures	4,032	Apr (rising)
22	Golden-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia atricapilla	New World Sparrows	3,907	Jan (peak)
23	Lesser Goldfinch	Spinus psaltria	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	3,872	Apr (rising)
24	Say's Phoebe	Sayornis saya	Tyrant Flycatchers	3,814	Jan (peak)
25	American Kestrel	Falco sparverius	Falcons and Caracaras	3,731	Jan (peak)
26	Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	3,700	Apr (rising)
27	Northern Shoveler	Spatula clypeata	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	3,697	Jan (peak)
28	Song Sparrow	Melospiza melodia	New World Sparrows	3,576	Apr (rising)
29	Acorn Woodpecker	Melanerpes formicivorus	Woodpeckers	3,479	Apr (rising)
30	Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	3,373	Jan (peak)
31	Common Raven	Corvus corax	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	3,350	Apr (rising)
32	Black-crowned Night Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	3,253	Apr (rising)
33	Ruddy Duck	Oxyura jamaicensis	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	3,198	Jan (peak)
34	Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Corthylio calendula	Kinglets	3,179	Dec (rising)
35	American Crow	Corvus brachyrhynchos	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	3,165	Apr (rising)
36	Cooper's Hawk	Astur cooperii	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	3,099	Jul (rising)
37	Willet	Tringa semipalmata	Sandpipers and Allies	3,067	Jan (peak)
38	Pied-billed Grebe	Podilymbus podiceps	Grebes	3,057	Jan (peak)
39	Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos	Mockingbirds and Thrashers	3,032	Apr (rising)
40	Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura	Pigeons and Doves	2,940	Apr (rising)
41	American Robin	Turdus migratorius	Thrushes	2,843	Apr (rising)
42	Common Goldeneye	Bucephala clangula	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	2,787	Jan (peak)
43	Northern Pintail	Anas acuta	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	2,461	Jan (peak)
44	Brown Pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis	Pelicans	2,420	Sep (rising)
45	Black-necked Stilt	Himantopus mexicanus	Stilts and Avocets	2,391	Jan (peak)
46	California Gull	Larus californicus	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	2,329	Jan (peak)
47	Savannah Sparrow	Passerculus sandwichensis	New World Sparrows	2,264	Oct (rising)
48	Green-winged Teal	Anas crecca	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	2,250	Jan (peak)
49	American White Pelican	Pelecanus erythrorhynchos	Pelicans	2,222	Jan (peak)
50	Northern Harrier	Circus hudsonius	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	2,201	Jan (peak)

Birds Seen in California in January

Top birds in January

All birds seen in California in January