Cardinals in Arkansas in January

Yes, January is one of the best months to see cardinals in Arkansas. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 476 of the 3,520 sightings logged across the year (13.5%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Northern Cardinal photographed in ArkansasNorthern Cardinal photographed in ArkansasNorthern Cardinal photographed in Arkansas
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for cardinals in Arkansas

13.5%

of yearly sightings

476

records in January

#2

busiest month of 12

3,520

verified records a year

December 7.3%, January 13.5%, February 12.8%. Busiest month is April at 13.6%.

Best months: April, January, February

3,520 verified observations of cardinals in Arkansas, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When cardinals are recorded in Arkansas

Peak month

April

479 records (13.6% of the year)

Quietest month

August

132 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak47613.5%
Februarypeak45012.8%
March39811.3%
Aprilpeak47913.6%
May39711.3%
June2136.1%
July1765%
August1323.8%
September1664.7%
October1514.3%
November2266.4%
December2567.3%

Cardinals you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Northern Cardinal3,519

In Arkansas, January carries 13.5% of the year's cardinals sightings, about 5.2 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 2nd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from December (7.3%) into January, and it heads toward February (12.8%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so January is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The cardinals most often recorded in Arkansas are Northern Cardinal. Those counts are annual totals rather than a January split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in January itself.

Which cardinals you are most likely to see

  • Northern Cardinal3,519 records
Plan your tripArkansas Post National Memorial

Plan your cardinal trip in Arkansas

Start with live tours near Arkansas Post National Memorial, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see cardinals in Arkansas in January?+

Yes. January accounts for 476 of the 3,520 verified cardinals sightings logged in Arkansas across the year, which is 13.5% of the annual total.

Is January a good time to see cardinals in Arkansas?+

January is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of April, January and February.

What month is best for cardinals in Arkansas?+

April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, January and February, based on 3,520 verified observations.

Which cardinals are you most likely to see in Arkansas?+

The most-recorded species in Arkansas are Northern Cardinal, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.