Birds in New York in January: What to Photograph (60 Species)

60 birds were recorded seen in New York 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

Northern Cardinal1,258 obs.

Red-tailed Hawk1,220 obs.

Canada Goose992 obs.

Ring-billed Gull910 obs.

Mallard848 obs.

Black-capped Chickadee828 obs.

House Sparrow777 obs.

White-throated Sparrow771 obs.

Downy Woodpecker765 obs.

Tufted Titmouse730 obs.

Dark-eyed Junco722 obs.

Mourning Dove709 obs.

All birds seen in New York in January

#	Species	Scientific name	Family	Obs.	Peak in state
1	Northern Cardinal	Cardinalis cardinalis	Cardinals and Allies	1,258	Apr (rising)
2	Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	1,220	Mar (rising)
3	Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	992	Apr (rising)
4	Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	910	Aug (rising)
5	Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	848	Apr (rising)
6	Black-capped Chickadee	Poecile atricapillus	Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice	828	Jan (peak)
7	House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Old World Sparrows	777	Apr (rising)
8	White-throated Sparrow	Zonotrichia albicollis	New World Sparrows	771	Apr (rising)
9	Downy Woodpecker	Dryobates pubescens	Woodpeckers	765	Apr (rising)
10	Tufted Titmouse	Baeolophus bicolor	Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice	730	Jan (peak)
11	Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	New World Sparrows	722	Nov (rising)
12	Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura	Pigeons and Doves	709	Apr (rising)
13	Red-bellied Woodpecker	Melanerpes carolinus	Woodpeckers	695	Apr (rising)
14	Cooper's Hawk	Astur cooperii	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	672	Jan (peak)
15	Blue Jay	Cyanocitta cristata	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	653	Apr (rising)
16	American Herring Gull	Larus smithsonianus	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	612	Aug (rising)
17	American Robin	Turdus migratorius	Thrushes	550	Apr (rising)
18	Bufflehead	Bucephala albeola	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	526	Mar (rising)
19	Hooded Merganser	Lophodytes cucullatus	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	518	Mar (rising)
20	Bald Eagle	Haliaeetus leucocephalus	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	517	Mar (rising)
21	Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos	Mockingbirds and Thrashers	486	Apr (rising)
22	Red-breasted Merganser	Mergus serrator	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	464	Mar (rising)
23	European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	Starlings	448	Apr (rising)
24	Song Sparrow	Melospiza melodia	New World Sparrows	428	Apr (rising)
25	Northern Shoveler	Spatula clypeata	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	412	Jan (peak)
26	White-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta carolinensis	Nuthatches	396	Mar (rising)
27	Brant	Branta bernicla	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	387	Apr (rising)
28	Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	383	Sep (rising)
29	Long-tailed Duck	Clangula hyemalis	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	359	Jan (peak)
30	House Finch	Haemorhous mexicanus	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	345	Apr (rising)
31	American Black Duck	Anas rubripes	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	333	Jan (peak)
32	Great Black-backed Gull	Larus marinus	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	327	Aug (rising)
33	Mute Swan	Cygnus olor	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	306	Apr (rising)
34	Carolina Wren	Thryothorus ludovicianus	Wrens	295	Feb (rising)
35	Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus varius	Woodpeckers	291	Apr (rising)
36	Gadwall	Mareca strepera	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	279	Jan (peak)
37	Common Merganser	Mergus merganser	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	278	Mar (rising)
38	American Tree Sparrow	Spizelloides arborea	New World Sparrows	275	Jan (peak)
39	American Coot	Fulica americana	Rails, Gallinules, and Coots	267	Nov (rising)
40	Common Goldeneye	Bucephala clangula	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	260	Jan (peak)
41	American Goldfinch	Spinus tristis	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	260	Aug (rising)
42	Ruddy Duck	Oxyura jamaicensis	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	257	Mar (rising)
43	Hairy Woodpecker	Leuconotopicus villosus	Woodpeckers	257	Apr (rising)
44	Greater Scaup	Aythya marila	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	250	Feb (rising)
45	American Kestrel	Falco sparverius	Falcons and Caracaras	209	Oct (rising)
46	American Crow	Corvus brachyrhynchos	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	198	Mar (rising)
47	Common Loon	Gavia immer	Loons	187	Apr (rising)
48	Pileated Woodpecker	Dryocopus pileatus	Woodpeckers	187	May (rising)
49	Snow Goose	Anser caerulescens	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	165	Mar (rising)
50	Snowy Owl	Bubo scandiacus	Typical Owls	160	Jan (peak)

Birds Seen in New York in January

Top birds in January

All birds seen in New York in January