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

60 birds were recorded seen in Rhode Island in January in our iNaturalist sample; 6 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

Common Eider113 obs.

American Herring Gull108 obs.

Canada Goose88 obs.

Northern Cardinal83 obs.

Song Sparrow83 obs.

Downy Woodpecker72 obs.

Dark-eyed Junco71 obs.

Ring-billed Gull66 obs.

Bufflehead64 obs.

White-throated Sparrow63 obs.

Red-breasted Merganser59 obs.

Brant58 obs.

All birds seen in Rhode Island in January

#	Species	Scientific name	Family	Obs.	Peak in state
1	Common Eider	Somateria mollissima	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	113	Jan (peak)
2	American Herring Gull	Larus smithsonianus	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	108	Aug (rising)
3	Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	88	Apr (rising)
4	Northern Cardinal	Cardinalis cardinalis	Cardinals and Allies	83	Apr (rising)
5	Song Sparrow	Melospiza melodia	New World Sparrows	83	May (rising)
6	Downy Woodpecker	Dryobates pubescens	Woodpeckers	72	Oct (rising)
7	Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	New World Sparrows	71	Jan (peak)
8	Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	66	Aug (rising)
9	Bufflehead	Bucephala albeola	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	64	Feb (rising)
10	White-throated Sparrow	Zonotrichia albicollis	New World Sparrows	63	Apr (rising)
11	Red-breasted Merganser	Mergus serrator	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	59	Mar (rising)
12	Brant	Branta bernicla	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	58	Apr (rising)
13	American Robin	Turdus migratorius	Thrushes	57	Apr (rising)
14	Black-capped Chickadee	Poecile atricapillus	Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice	56	Apr (rising)
15	Harlequin Duck	Histrionicus histrionicus	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	51	Apr (rising)
16	Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	50	Apr (rising)
17	Black Scoter	Melanitta americana	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	49	Jan (peak)
18	Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	48	Apr (rising)
19	Hooded Merganser	Lophodytes cucullatus	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	48	Feb (rising)
20	Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura	Pigeons and Doves	46	Apr (rising)
21	Red-bellied Woodpecker	Melanerpes carolinus	Woodpeckers	45	Apr (rising)
22	Tufted Titmouse	Baeolophus bicolor	Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice	44	Apr (rising)
23	Carolina Wren	Thryothorus ludovicianus	Wrens	43	May (rising)
24	House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Old World Sparrows	37	May (rising)
25	White-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta carolinensis	Nuthatches	33	May (rising)
26	Common Goldeneye	Bucephala clangula	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	32	Feb (rising)
27	Great Black-backed Gull	Larus marinus	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	31	Jul (rising)
28	Cooper's Hawk	Astur cooperii	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	30	Dec (rising)
29	Greater Scaup	Aythya marila	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	29	Dec (rising)
30	Blue Jay	Cyanocitta cristata	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	29	Apr (rising)
31	House Finch	Haemorhous mexicanus	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	29	May (rising)
32	Common Loon	Gavia immer	Loons	28	Dec (rising)
33	Mute Swan	Cygnus olor	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	27	Apr (rising)
34	American Black Duck	Anas rubripes	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	27	Jan (peak)
35	European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	Starlings	25	Apr (rising)
36	Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	24	Jun (rising)
37	Golden-crowned Kinglet	Regulus satrapa	Kinglets	24	Oct (rising)
38	Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos	Mockingbirds and Thrashers	23	May (rising)
39	American Goldfinch	Spinus tristis	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	23	Aug (rising)
40	Red-shouldered Hawk	Buteo lineatus	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	22	Jan (peak)
41	Surf Scoter	Melanitta perspicillata	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	22	Feb (rising)
42	Wild Turkey	Meleagris gallopavo	Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies	21	Apr (rising)
43	Sanderling	Calidris alba	Sandpipers and Allies	20	Sep (rising)
44	Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus varius	Woodpeckers	18	Nov (rising)
45	Ruddy Duck	Oxyura jamaicensis	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	18	Nov (rising)
46	Common Merganser	Mergus merganser	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	17	Jan (peak)
47	Northern Flicker	Colaptes auratus	Woodpeckers	17	Jul (rising)
48	Horned Grebe	Podiceps auritus	Grebes	16	Mar (rising)
49	Bald Eagle	Haliaeetus leucocephalus	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	16	Mar (rising)
50	Eastern Bluebird	Sialia sialis	Thrushes	16	May (rising)

Birds Seen in Rhode Island in January

Top birds in January

All birds seen in Rhode Island in January