Winter in Illinois is not only a time of snow and cold winds, but also an exciting season for birdwatchers. During this time of year, the state of Illinois becomes home to many unique birds in illinois in winter species, from year-round residents to northern migrants who come to spend the winter. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced birder, winter in Illinois offers a great opportunity to explore and observe a variety of bird species, making the cold season lively and colorful. Let’s explore birds in illinois in winter with birdsofjoy.com.
What is winter like in Illinois?
Winter in Illinois officially begins for birdwatchers with the Christmas Bird Count, when people from all over the state, from beginners to experts, come together to count the birds that are seen in a single day. Counts begin in mid-December and run through mid-January, with many nature lovers participating in multiple counts throughout the season.
In southern Illinois, birders will count species such as white-crowned sparrows, Carolina sparrows, and yellow-rumped thrushes. Sometimes, they may even spot eastern grebes that are either staying or wintering. Meanwhile, in the north, birders will note large flocks of wintering mergansers, ducks, and gulls that gather on Lake Michigan.
Seagulls and Owls Breeding in Winter
Winter is also the time when breeding gulls and owls from farther north come to Illinois to feed. Ring-billed gulls are a year-round resident, but from December through March, Icelandic, Thayer’s, and blue-gray gulls also join the mix. Identifying these gulls can be difficult, and many bird clubs hold annual events to help people spot them, especially at Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, where people can attend presentations on gull identification and then go out to look through scopes set up by professionals. Other locations like Starved Rock Lock and Dam and Peoria Lock and Dam are also good places to see gulls in winter.
Bald Eagles and Water Birds
Locks and dams along the Mississippi and Illinois rivers attract bald eagles in the winter, and Illinois can have one of the largest bald eagle populations in the country during this season. The eagles visit dams where turbines stun herring and other fish, making them easy prey. Sometimes, 50 or more can be counted at one spot along the Mississippi River, such as at Mississippi Palisades State Park. As it gets colder, the ice on lakes and rivers thickens, attracting more eagles to locks where the water remains unfrozen.
Open waters in winter are also where you can find geese and ducks. Thousands of snow geese winter along rivers and lakes in central and southern Illinois, while Canada geese winter across the state, foraging for food in abandoned agricultural fields.
Birds in illinois in winter: Sparrows and Nightingales
Winter sparrows and northern robins arrive in Illinois in late fall and stay throughout the winter where they can find food. Once a robin establishes a territory, it stays there, allowing birders to observe it if they are patient. Sparrows such as the red-winged and white-winged crossbills are often found in pine and spruce forests, such as those at Morton Arboretum, Illinois Beach State Park, and Sand Ridge State Forest. White-winged crossbills and pine sparrows are also often attracted to sunflower and Niger seed feeders in backyards. Other songbirds such as snow buntings, Lapland longfinches, and American tree sparrows also spend winter in Illinois.
Owls and Hawks
If you love owls, winter in Illinois is a great time to see them. Several species of owls come from the north to winter in Illinois, including the northern saw-toothed owl, long-eared owl, short-eared owl, and snowy owl. While the saw-toothed and long-eared owls hunt at night, short-eared and snowy owls can be seen hunting during the day, especially when the sky is overcast. Signs of owl presence include droppings, bone fragments, and feathers that the owl cannot digest. Another owl species, the great horned owl nests in the winter, and males usually begin courting females in November and December. Snowy owls, in years when food is scarce in their breeding grounds, will travel south and sometimes as far as central Illinois in search of food.
The Return of the Red-Winged Blackbirds
By mid- to late February, the first red-winged blackbirds will return to southern Illinois, signaling the end of winter and the beginning of spring. For many birders, the arrival of red-winged blackbirds, along with the song of sparrows, signals the approaching spectacular migration.
Conclusion
Winter in Illinois brings more than just the cold of the snowy winds; it also opens up a world of bird diversity, with wintering and migrating birds from far and wide. Winter bird watching not only helps us connect with nature, but also provides relaxation and joy during the cold winter days. Take the time to explore Illinois’ winter bird areas and you will see that winter is not only cold but also full of life and the magic of nature.
