Birds in Rhode Island in February: What to Photograph (60 Species)

60 birds were recorded seen in Rhode Island in February in our iNaturalist sample; 7 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 Goose90 obs.

American Herring Gull86 obs.

Red-breasted Merganser83 obs.

Bufflehead75 obs.

Common Eider69 obs.

Hooded Merganser68 obs.

Mallard63 obs.

Ring-billed Gull58 obs.

American Robin57 obs.

Song Sparrow56 obs.

Northern Cardinal51 obs.

Mute Swan50 obs.

All birds seen in Rhode Island in February

#	Species	Scientific name	Family	Obs.	Peak in state
1	Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	90	Apr (rising)
2	American Herring Gull	Larus smithsonianus	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	86	Aug (rising)
3	Red-breasted Merganser	Mergus serrator	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	83	Mar (rising)
4	Bufflehead	Bucephala albeola	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	75	Feb (peak)
5	Common Eider	Somateria mollissima	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	69	Jan (past peak)
6	Hooded Merganser	Lophodytes cucullatus	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	68	Feb (peak)
7	Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	63	Apr (rising)
8	Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	58	Aug (rising)
9	American Robin	Turdus migratorius	Thrushes	57	Apr (rising)
10	Song Sparrow	Melospiza melodia	New World Sparrows	56	May (rising)
11	Northern Cardinal	Cardinalis cardinalis	Cardinals and Allies	51	Apr (rising)
12	Mute Swan	Cygnus olor	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	50	Apr (rising)
13	Black-capped Chickadee	Poecile atricapillus	Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice	48	Apr (rising)
14	Common Goldeneye	Bucephala clangula	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	47	Feb (peak)
15	Tufted Titmouse	Baeolophus bicolor	Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice	43	Apr (rising)
16	Harlequin Duck	Histrionicus histrionicus	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	42	Apr (rising)
17	Black Scoter	Melanitta americana	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	42	Jan (past peak)
18	Common Loon	Gavia immer	Loons	40	Dec (rising)
19	Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	39	Apr (rising)
20	Brant	Branta bernicla	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	39	Apr (rising)
21	Downy Woodpecker	Dryobates pubescens	Woodpeckers	38	Oct (rising)
22	European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	Starlings	37	Apr (rising)
23	House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Old World Sparrows	36	May (rising)
24	Surf Scoter	Melanitta perspicillata	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	34	Feb (peak)
25	White-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta carolinensis	Nuthatches	34	May (rising)
26	Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos	Mockingbirds and Thrashers	33	May (rising)
27	Carolina Wren	Thryothorus ludovicianus	Wrens	32	May (rising)
28	Blue Jay	Cyanocitta cristata	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	32	Apr (rising)
29	Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	New World Sparrows	31	Jan (past peak)
30	American Wigeon	Mareca americana	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	28	Feb (peak)
31	White-throated Sparrow	Zonotrichia albicollis	New World Sparrows	26	Apr (rising)
32	Cooper's Hawk	Astur cooperii	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	25	Dec (rising)
33	Red-bellied Woodpecker	Melanerpes carolinus	Woodpeckers	24	Apr (rising)
34	American Black Duck	Anas rubripes	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	23	Jan (past peak)
35	House Finch	Haemorhous mexicanus	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	23	May (rising)
36	Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura	Pigeons and Doves	21	Apr (rising)
37	Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	21	Jun (rising)
38	Greater Scaup	Aythya marila	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	21	Dec (rising)
39	Horned Grebe	Podiceps auritus	Grebes	20	Mar (rising)
40	Red-shouldered Hawk	Buteo lineatus	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	19	Jan (past peak)
41	Great Black-backed Gull	Larus marinus	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	18	Jul (rising)
42	Wild Turkey	Meleagris gallopavo	Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies	17	Apr (rising)
43	Bald Eagle	Haliaeetus leucocephalus	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	17	Mar (rising)
44	Common Merganser	Mergus merganser	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	16	Jan (past peak)
45	Ring-necked Duck	Aythya collaris	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	16	Feb (peak)
46	Northern Flicker	Colaptes auratus	Woodpeckers	16	Jul (rising)
47	White-winged Scoter	Melanitta deglandi	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	16	Dec (rising)
48	American Goldfinch	Spinus tristis	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	16	Aug (rising)
49	Gadwall	Mareca strepera	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	16	Feb (peak)
50	Sanderling	Calidris alba	Sandpipers and Allies	14	Sep (rising)

Birds Seen in Rhode Island in February

Top birds in February

All birds seen in Rhode Island in February