Birds in New Jersey in February: What to Photograph (60 Species)

60 birds were recorded seen in New Jersey in February in our iNaturalist sample; 3 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 February

Canada Goose912 obs.

Northern Cardinal685 obs.

Dark-eyed Junco535 obs.

American Robin501 obs.

Mallard476 obs.

White-throated Sparrow445 obs.

Mourning Dove412 obs.

Bufflehead372 obs.

Red-tailed Hawk353 obs.

Song Sparrow319 obs.

Downy Woodpecker317 obs.

Red-breasted Merganser314 obs.

All birds seen in New Jersey in February

#	Species	Scientific name	Family	Obs.	Peak in state
1	Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	912	Apr (rising)
2	Northern Cardinal	Cardinalis cardinalis	Cardinals and Allies	685	Apr (rising)
3	Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	New World Sparrows	535	Jan (past peak)
4	American Robin	Turdus migratorius	Thrushes	501	Apr (rising)
5	Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	476	Mar (rising)
6	White-throated Sparrow	Zonotrichia albicollis	New World Sparrows	445	Oct (rising)
7	Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura	Pigeons and Doves	412	Apr (rising)
8	Bufflehead	Bucephala albeola	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	372	Mar (rising)
9	Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	353	Mar (rising)
10	Song Sparrow	Melospiza melodia	New World Sparrows	319	Mar (rising)
11	Downy Woodpecker	Dryobates pubescens	Woodpeckers	317	Mar (rising)
12	Red-breasted Merganser	Mergus serrator	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	314	Feb (peak)
13	American Herring Gull	Larus smithsonianus	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	309	Aug (rising)
14	Hooded Merganser	Lophodytes cucullatus	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	301	Jan (past peak)
15	Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	299	Dec (rising)
16	Bald Eagle	Haliaeetus leucocephalus	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	296	Oct (rising)
17	Long-tailed Duck	Clangula hyemalis	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	287	Jan (past peak)
18	Brant	Branta bernicla	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	281	Mar (rising)
19	House Finch	Haemorhous mexicanus	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	269	May (rising)
20	Red-bellied Woodpecker	Melanerpes carolinus	Woodpeckers	263	Apr (rising)
21	Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	257	Sep (rising)
22	House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Old World Sparrows	255	May (rising)
23	European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	Starlings	254	May (rising)
24	American Black Duck	Anas rubripes	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	242	Jan (past peak)
25	Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos	Mockingbirds and Thrashers	235	Apr (rising)
26	Common Merganser	Mergus merganser	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	233	Mar (rising)
27	Blue Jay	Cyanocitta cristata	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	231	May (rising)
28	Cooper's Hawk	Astur cooperii	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	227	Oct (rising)
29	Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura	New World Vultures	222	Mar (rising)
30	Tufted Titmouse	Baeolophus bicolor	Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice	216	Apr (rising)
31	Red-winged Blackbird	Agelaius phoeniceus	New World Blackbirds and Orioles	187	May (rising)
32	Common Loon	Gavia immer	Loons	184	Feb (peak)
33	Harlequin Duck	Histrionicus histrionicus	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	184	Jan (past peak)
34	Carolina Wren	Thryothorus ludovicianus	Wrens	176	Apr (rising)
35	White-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta carolinensis	Nuthatches	171	Mar (rising)
36	Ring-necked Duck	Aythya collaris	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	161	Mar (rising)
37	Red-shouldered Hawk	Buteo lineatus	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	153	Jan (past peak)
38	Eastern Bluebird	Sialia sialis	Thrushes	151	Apr (rising)
39	Mute Swan	Cygnus olor	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	150	Oct (rising)
40	Snow Goose	Anser caerulescens	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	148	Jan (past peak)
41	Purple Sandpiper	Calidris maritima	Sandpipers and Allies	145	Feb (peak)
42	Northern Shoveler	Spatula clypeata	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	139	Dec (rising)
43	Gadwall	Mareca strepera	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	138	Dec (rising)
44	Common Grackle	Quiscalus quiscula	New World Blackbirds and Orioles	133	May (rising)
45	Great Black-backed Gull	Larus marinus	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	125	Aug (rising)
46	American Goldfinch	Spinus tristis	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	120	Aug (rising)
47	Yellow-rumped Warbler	Setophaga coronata	New World Warblers	112	Oct (rising)
48	Black-capped Chickadee	Poecile atricapillus	Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice	104	Mar (rising)
49	Northern Pintail	Anas acuta	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	103	Jan (past peak)
50	Northern Harrier	Circus hudsonius	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	103	Oct (rising)

Birds Seen in New Jersey in February

Top birds in February

All birds seen in New Jersey in February