Birds in Washington, D.C.
When the District's notable birds are present through the year, with arrival and departure timing.
A hand-checked selection of the birds most worth knowing in Washington, D.C., compiled from state checklists and regional references. Monthly presence describes typical seasonal timing, not survey counts. The chart below shows when each is present through the year.
Data updated: August 2026Sources & method · Corrections
- Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
- Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina
- Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus
- Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
- Cooper's Hawk Astur cooperii
- American Robin Turdus migratorius
- Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
- Carolina Chickadee Poecile carolinensis
- Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet Corthylio calendula
- Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata
- Wood Duck Aix sponsa
- Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis
- Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
- Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus
| Species | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis | January: abundant | February: abundant | March: abundant | April: abundant | May: abundant | June: abundant | July: abundant | August: abundant | September: abundant | October: abundant | November: abundant | December: abundant |
| Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina | January: absent | February: absent | March: absent | April: scarce | May: abundant | June: abundant | July: abundant | August: abundant | September: common | October: scarce | November: absent | December: absent |
| Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus | January: abundant | February: abundant | March: abundant | April: abundant | May: abundant | June: abundant | July: abundant | August: abundant | September: abundant | October: abundant | November: abundant | December: abundant |
| Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus | January: abundant | February: abundant | March: abundant | April: common | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: common | October: abundant | November: abundant | December: abundant |
| Cooper's Hawk Astur cooperii | January: common | February: common | March: common | April: common | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: abundant | October: abundant | November: abundant | December: common |
| American Robin Turdus migratorius | January: common | February: common | March: abundant | April: abundant | May: abundant | June: abundant | July: abundant | August: abundant | September: abundant | October: abundant | November: abundant | December: common |
| Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura | January: abundant | February: abundant | March: abundant | April: abundant | May: abundant | June: abundant | July: abundant | August: abundant | September: abundant | October: abundant | November: abundant | December: abundant |
| Carolina Chickadee Poecile carolinensis | January: abundant | February: abundant | March: abundant | April: abundant | May: abundant | June: abundant | July: abundant | August: abundant | September: abundant | October: abundant | November: abundant | December: abundant |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus | January: abundant | February: abundant | March: abundant | April: abundant | May: abundant | June: abundant | July: abundant | August: abundant | September: abundant | October: abundant | November: abundant | December: abundant |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet Corthylio calendula | January: common | February: common | March: common | April: common | May: absent | June: absent | July: absent | August: absent | September: scarce | October: abundant | November: abundant | December: common |
| Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata | January: absent | February: absent | March: absent | April: absent | May: abundant | June: scarce | July: absent | August: absent | September: common | October: scarce | November: absent | December: absent |
| Wood Duck Aix sponsa | January: common | February: common | March: abundant | April: abundant | May: abundant | June: abundant | July: abundant | August: abundant | September: abundant | October: abundant | November: common | December: common |
| Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis | January: abundant | February: abundant | March: common | April: scarce | May: absent | June: absent | July: absent | August: absent | September: absent | October: scarce | November: abundant | December: abundant |
| Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias | January: common | February: common | March: common | April: abundant | May: abundant | June: abundant | July: abundant | August: abundant | September: abundant | October: abundant | November: common | December: common |
| Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus | January: common | February: common | March: common | April: common | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: common | October: common | November: common | December: common |
The Washington, D.C. birds you'll actually see
A printable checklist of the birds most consistently recorded in Washington, D.C.
The complete Birds of Washington, D.C.
the District's most-recorded birds, ranked from survey data, with when each is present through the year and a life list to keep.
Want it on paper? See the printable Birds of Washington, D.C..