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

60 birds were recorded seen in Massachusetts in January in our iNaturalist sample; 10 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

Black-capped Chickadee1,131 obs.

Northern Cardinal947 obs.

Dark-eyed Junco780 obs.

Mallard761 obs.

Downy Woodpecker714 obs.

Red-tailed Hawk698 obs.

Canada Goose687 obs.

Tufted Titmouse679 obs.

Hooded Merganser637 obs.

Common Eider636 obs.

American Herring Gull594 obs.

Song Sparrow575 obs.

All birds seen in Massachusetts in January

#	Species	Scientific name	Family	Obs.	Peak in state
1	Black-capped Chickadee	Poecile atricapillus	Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice	1,131	Apr (rising)
2	Northern Cardinal	Cardinalis cardinalis	Cardinals and Allies	947	Apr (rising)
3	Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	New World Sparrows	780	Jan (peak)
4	Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	761	Apr (rising)
5	Downy Woodpecker	Dryobates pubescens	Woodpeckers	714	Apr (rising)
6	Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	698	Apr (rising)
7	Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	687	Apr (rising)
8	Tufted Titmouse	Baeolophus bicolor	Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice	679	Apr (rising)
9	Hooded Merganser	Lophodytes cucullatus	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	637	Jan (peak)
10	Common Eider	Somateria mollissima	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	636	Jan (peak)
11	American Herring Gull	Larus smithsonianus	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	594	Aug (rising)
12	Song Sparrow	Melospiza melodia	New World Sparrows	575	Apr (rising)
13	Blue Jay	Cyanocitta cristata	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	564	Apr (rising)
14	Bufflehead	Bucephala albeola	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	557	Mar (rising)
15	American Robin	Turdus migratorius	Thrushes	556	Apr (rising)
16	White-throated Sparrow	Zonotrichia albicollis	New World Sparrows	520	Apr (rising)
17	Red-breasted Merganser	Mergus serrator	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	497	Feb (rising)
18	White-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta carolinensis	Nuthatches	463	Apr (rising)
19	House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Old World Sparrows	456	Apr (rising)
20	Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	426	Aug (rising)
21	Mute Swan	Cygnus olor	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	415	Apr (rising)
22	Cooper's Hawk	Astur cooperii	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	403	Dec (rising)
23	American Black Duck	Anas rubripes	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	361	Jan (peak)
24	Common Goldeneye	Bucephala clangula	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	358	Jan (peak)
25	Long-tailed Duck	Clangula hyemalis	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	353	Jan (peak)
26	Red-bellied Woodpecker	Melanerpes carolinus	Woodpeckers	347	Apr (rising)
27	House Finch	Haemorhous mexicanus	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	344	Apr (rising)
28	Carolina Wren	Thryothorus ludovicianus	Wrens	330	Apr (rising)
29	Eastern Bluebird	Sialia sialis	Thrushes	328	Apr (rising)
30	Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura	Pigeons and Doves	326	Apr (rising)
31	Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos	Mockingbirds and Thrashers	320	Apr (rising)
32	Bald Eagle	Haliaeetus leucocephalus	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	318	Apr (rising)
33	Great Black-backed Gull	Larus marinus	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	310	Aug (rising)
34	Wild Turkey	Meleagris gallopavo	Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies	306	Apr (rising)
35	American Goldfinch	Spinus tristis	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	305	Aug (rising)
36	Common Loon	Gavia immer	Loons	282	Apr (rising)
37	Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	274	May (rising)
38	Common Merganser	Mergus merganser	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	250	Mar (rising)
39	European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	Starlings	242	Apr (rising)
40	Surf Scoter	Melanitta perspicillata	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	219	Jan (peak)
41	White-winged Scoter	Melanitta deglandi	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	217	Nov (rising)
42	Brant	Branta bernicla	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	210	Apr (rising)
43	Barred Owl	Strix varia	Typical Owls	207	May (rising)
44	Northern Harrier	Circus hudsonius	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	191	Jan (peak)
45	Ring-necked Duck	Aythya collaris	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	182	Mar (rising)
46	American Tree Sparrow	Spizelloides arborea	New World Sparrows	169	Dec (rising)
47	Snowy Owl	Bubo scandiacus	Typical Owls	164	Jan (peak)
48	Black Scoter	Melanitta americana	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	151	Dec (rising)
49	Horned Lark	Eremophila alpestris	Larks	146	Jan (peak)
50	Pileated Woodpecker	Dryocopus pileatus	Woodpeckers	146	Apr (rising)

Birds Seen in Massachusetts in January

Top birds in January

All birds seen in Massachusetts in January