Birds in Illinois in January

Percent of complete checklists in Illinois that reported the bird during these weeks, 2016–2025 (96,314 checklists). It shows how likely you are to list the bird, not how many there are. Methods.

1. 1Northern Cardinal47%
2. 2Dark-eyed Junco46%
3. 3Canada Goose43%
4. 4Downy Woodpecker41%
5. 5House Sparrow36%
6. 6Black-capped Chickadee35%
7. 7Red-bellied Woodpecker33%
8. 8White-breasted Nuthatch29%
9. 9Mallard29%
10. 10American Crow28%
11. 11Blue Jay28%
12. 12European Starling27%
13. 13Mourning Dove27%
14. 14American Goldfinch25%
15. 15House Finch24%
16. 16American Tree Sparrow22%
17. 17American Robin21%
18. 18Common Goldeneye19%
19. 19Ring-billed Gull19%
20. 20Red-tailed Hawk18%
21. 21American Herring Gull16%
22. 22Hairy Woodpecker14%
23. 23White-throated Sparrow14%
24. 24Tufted Titmouse13%
25. 25Bald Eagle12%
26. 26Common Merganser12%

• Turkey Vulturefirst arrivals late January, peaks the second week of April
• Eastern Towheefirst arrivals mid January, peaks late April

• Golden-crowned Kingletmost gone by early January
• Hermit Thrushmost gone by the second week of January
• Winter Wrenmost gone by the second week of January
• Lincoln's Sparrowmost gone by early January
• Orange-crowned Warblermost gone by the second week of January
• Bonaparte's Gullmost gone by the second week of January

27. 27Red-breasted Merganser9.1%
28. 28Rock Pigeon8.6%
29. 29Carolina Wren8.2%
30. 30Northern Flicker8.1%
31. 31Song Sparrow8.1%
32. 32Great Blue Heron6.3%
33. 33Red-breasted Nuthatch6.1%
34. 34Cooper's Hawk5.8%
35. 35Hooded Merganser5.4%
36. 36American Kestrel5.2%
37. 37Carolina Chickadee5.1%
38. 38Brown Creeper4.6%
39. 39Belted Kingfisher4.6%
40. 40Eastern Bluebird4.5%
41. 41Northern Harrier4.4%
42. 42Bufflehead4.3%
43. 43Gadwall4.0%
44. 44Red-winged Blackbird3.6%
45. 45Redhead3.6%
46. 46Greater Scaup3.4%
47. 47Mute Swan3.4%
48. 48American Black Duck3.3%
49. 49Greater White-fronted Goose3.2%
50. 50American Coot3.2%
51. 51Pine Siskin3.1%
52. 52Red-shouldered Hawk3.1%

53. 53Red-headed Woodpecker3.0%
54. 54Lesser Scaup3.0%
55. 55Horned Lark2.9%
56. 56Fox Sparrow2.8%
57. 57White-crowned Sparrow2.8%
58. 58Pileated Woodpecker2.8%
59. 59Ring-necked Duck2.7%
60. 60Brown-headed Cowbird2.5%