Short-eared Owl
These medium-size owls are crepuscular, hunting at the first and last light of day over open fields. They are the most widely distributed owl in the world, eating mostly small mammals.
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Rough-legged Hawk
Born on the tundra and raised on a diet of lemmings and other small mammals, Rough-legged Hawks come to ‘the lower 48’ for winter and enjoy a diet of voles, mice and shrews caught on large, open expanses like prairies and even airports.
Northern Harrier
Widely distributed over N. America, we see more harriers during winter, coursing low over fields in search of small mammals and birds of all types.
Merlin
This small falcon specializes hunting small birds. In winter it is often found in large, old cemeteries that have a variety of vegetation, and which are bordered by neighborhoods containing lots of bird feeders.
Snowy Owl
Another raptor born on the open tundra and fed large numbers of lemmings. Winter sends most of the young birds south across Canada and the bordering US states where they inhabit large, open fields, airports and break walls along Lake Erie.
American Tree Sparrow
Photo by Matt Valencic
These birds are usually found in flocks in weedy fields where they search for seeds of all kinds. Listen for their musical twittering!
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Photo by Matt Valencic
Beautifully colored, this 4” bird prefers conifers where they search for insects and conifer seeds.
Brown Creeper
Photo by Matt Valencic
Just 5” long and 0.3 oz, Brown Creepers are here most of the year but easier to see during winter. Look for them on tree trunks using their pointy bill to get under bark for insects.
Snow Bunting
Photo by Matt Valencic
Snow Bunting’s breed in the high arctic where there are no trees, so look for them in open agricultural fields and along shorelines where they are foraging for seeds.
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Photo by Matt Valencic
Just 4” long and weighing 0.2 oz, this bird can withstand temps down to -40F. They find insects that overwinter under bark and elsewhere during winter.
