A Few Birds to Watch for | Winter 2022 Forecast #Video

Winter is officially here, a great time to watch the birds that have stuck around providing us with beauty and enjoyment. Resident birds have likely been making rounds to your feeders daily. There are some winter migrants to be on the lookout for though. Some of which may make an appearance in your backyard and others that you’ll have to suit up for to go in search of.

Let us see what birds we could spot over this chilly season.

A beautiful bird of prey to see is a visitor from the arctic, the Snowy owl.

An arctic bird of prey, the Rough-legged hawk shows up this time of year.

A favorite hawk of mine, the beautiful Northern Goshawk, can be seen more so in winter.

The Northern Shrike. Predatory songbirds, who look very similar to the cute Canada Jay.

The gorgeous snow buntings, Restless black and white birds that form huge flocks over this cold time of year.

The Bohemian Waxwing may show up in some areas.

Red-breasted nuthatches, these big personality little birds won’t be showing up in large numbers south of the Canadian border like 2020, at least not the eastern half.

The adorable Redpoll. This year though they have no reason to leave their northern range due to good birch, alders, and spruce crops, in the eastern portion, but as we head into the later part of winter it may be a different story.

White-winged crossbills are staying north this year in eastern North America

The Evening grosbeak for most of the population will be staying in the boreal forest in the east, but some are expected to move

Pine grosbeaks, as they arrive in large flocks seeking fruiting ornamental trees and well-stocked feeders with black-oil sunflower seeds.

Gulls, there are few visitors from the Arctic, like the Iceland Gull who can be found along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts Such as the Little Gull or Black-headed Gull

The cute, big personality, and friendly Canada Jay.

The stunning snow ghost, the Willow Ptarmigan is quite the sight, if you can spot them as they blend in very well to the snowy backdrop moving slowly as if floating above the snow.

The Golden-crowned kinglet is a tiny bird that never stops moving, flitting in and out of limbs high up in pines as they search for dormant insects.

Flocks of waterfowl together, in prime areas that have open water which is in short supply during this time of year causing them to all come together.

This chilly time of year may be discouraging, but getting outside to enjoy the beauty nature has to offer over this seemingly bleak season will open your eyes to the magical wonder of winter. You are sure to be amazed and likely humbled by the incredible ability of birds to survive in such a harsh environment.

So get your, wool underwear, warm socks, boots, hat, scarf, and winter coat on and seize the short winter days. You never know what wonders await you during this formidable season.

Thank you for watching, Happy Winter Birding.
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