When the temperature drops and the snow starts flying where should you head to do a little birding…or should I say brrrr-ding. Well, there are quite a few good options around Chicago. We're fortunate that when our spring, summer, and fall visitors exit the region new visitors from the north move in to spend the winter with us. Some of these species can be found almost all over the region such as Dark-eyed Juncos and American Tree Sparrows. For many other species, you have to seek out where they settle down. Many of our winter visitors have specific habitat needs or preferences, and only certain areas around the city offer the right mix of resources for these birds.
Common Goldeneye, Evan Barrientos/Audubon Photography Awards
Open water is the main resource that can be scarce in the dead of winter. Generally, the lakefront and the rivers or channels have open water throughout the winter, so those are the best places to find almost any species of bird, but especially assemblages of waterfowl and gulls. Trees and shrubs along the periphery of open water can be good places to find smaller wintering and resident birds. They often snack on berries and seeds throughout the winter and will move around as they deplete those resources.
American Goldfinch, Lynn Cleveland/Audubon Photography Awards
When it comes to searching for some of our Arctic visitors, you have to key in on what they are used to for habitat, namely the wide open expanse of the tundra. Specifically, Snow Buntings, Lapland Longspurs, and Snowy Owls will seek out these large open spaces. In Chicago, the places most like that tend to be the beaches and fields along the lakefront. But you can also look for these visitors anywhere else that may replicate this familiar habitat, e.g. O’Hare Airport.
Snow Bunting, Amy Simmons/Audubon Photography Awards
For smaller, more secretive species like Long-eared and Northern Saw-whet Owls, you’ll need to carefully search dense vegetation where they like to stay hidden while roosting. These species will often favor evergreens that offer a little more protection on those blustery winter days, but any dense vegetation will do so don’t limit your search. The only time I’ve found these species on my own was when some riled-up chickadee and/or cardinal alerted me to their presence first. So listen to those resident birds; if they start chirping up a storm try to see if there’s a reason. *Note: if you are lucky enough to find a roosting owl, we recommend not sharing the exact location to limit disturbance.
Learn more about observing owls from CBA here - Respecting Owls: Ethical Owl Viewing and Photography
Places to Go in Winter
Below are a few suggestions for winter birding locations and some of the species that might be found there. Click the location name to view the eBird Hotspot page.
Montrose Beach and Harbor: waterfowl, gulls, snow buntings, sparrows, finches
Northerly Island: waterfowl, gulls, snow buntings, sparrows, finches
Jackson Park: waterfowl, gulls, sparrows, finches
Rainbow Beach: waterfowl and gulls
Park 566/Steelworkers: waterfowl, gulls, snow buntings, sparrows, finches
Big Marsh Park/Stony Island Dr/Calumet River: waterfowl, gulls, snow buntings, sparrows, finches, Northern Shrike, Rough-legged Hawk, Bald Eagles
Wolf Lake: waterfowl, gulls, sparrows, finches, Northern Shrike, Bald Eagles