Winter Birding in Minnesota

 

A Long-eared Owl (Asio otus).
Hennepin County, Minnesota.

Minnesota in winter.  Even the thought is cold. But, Diane and I joined a small group that traveled to northern Minnesota in late January to look for birds.  We were seeking birds of the frozen north, birds that find Minnesota in winter a favorable clime.  Owls were a main attraction for us but we found much more. 

Our group of nine came from Florida, Michigan and North Carolina.  We were led by Kevin Burke of Ventures Birding Tours based in Asheville who led us for five days in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  In Minnesota we spent time around Minneapolis, Duluth, the Sax-Zim Bog and the north shore of Lake Superior near Two Harbors.  We also birded just across the state line in Superior, Wisconsin.

THE ENVIRONMENT

Hiking in the Sax-Zim Bog, Minnesota. 
Trip leader, Kevin Burke is in the front.  
Photo courtesy of Kevin Burke. 

Our faithful 12 passenger van in the Sax-Zim Bog, Minnesota. 

Sunrise over the Sax-Zim Bog, Minnesota. 

Double sun-bows with sundogs.
Sax-Zim Bog, Minnesota. 
Photo courtesy of Diane Coggin 

Frozen shoreline of Lake Superior.
Two Harbors, Minnesota. 

Blue ice in Lake Superior.
St. Louis County, Minnesota.

  

A brief snowstorm in the Sax-Zim Bog. Minnesota.

THE BIRDS  

Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus). 
Two Harbors, Minnesota.  

We found a group of Bohemian Waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus) feeding on European Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia) near the shore of Lake Superior.  Large flocks of these waxwings wander northern Minnesota in winter eating the last of the fruit.

Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea).  
Sax-Zim Bog, Minnesota.

Common Redpolls (Acanthis flammea) are tiny finches found throughout Minnesota in winter. They forage in the woods and fields but also visit feeders.

Hoary Redpoll (Acanthis hornemanni).  
Hennepin County, Minnesota. 

Hoary Redpolls (Acanthis hornemanni) are closely related to Common Redpolls and the two
may be lumped into one species soon.  Hoary Redpolls are seen much less frequently than the aptly named Common Redpolls. 

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus).  
Sax-Zim Bog, Minnesota. 

The Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) is the northern counterpart of the Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis).  These small birds are friendly and fearless. They are a common feeder bird and they cache seeds to eat later.

Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis).  
Sax-Zim Bog, Minnesota.  

The Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) is a bold relative of the Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) who will often follow hikers in hopes of a handout.  The common name of this bird was changed from Gray Jay to Canada Jay in 2018.  This reversed the name change from Canada Jay to Gray Jay that took place in 1957.  For the record, the bird in this picture was NOT in Canada.

Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis). 
Sax-Zim Bog, Minnesota.  

The Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis) is a predatory songbird that feeds on insects, reptiles, small mammals and birds. It has a strong hooked beak but lacks the strong feet and talons of raptors. Instead, Northern Shrikes kill their prey by impaling them on thorns or barbwire.

Male Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator).
Sax-Zim Bog, Minnesota. 

Pine Grosbeaks (Pinicola enucleator) are medium sized birds that make their living extracting seeds from the cones of pine and other conifers.  The male is bright red on the head and breast with dark wings and white wing bars. Female Pine Grosbeaks are yellowish green on the head and rump. Pine Grosbeaks also frequent bird feeders in winter. 

Male White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) feeding on
Tamarack (Larix laricina) cones.  
Sax-Zim Bog, Minnesota. 

White-winged Crossbills (Loxia leucoptera) eat seeds from the cones of Black Spruce (Picea mariana) and Tamarack (Larix laricina).  These trees are abundant in the bogs and White-winged Crossbills use their crossed mandibles to removed the seeds.  The color pattern of male and female White-winged Crossbills is similar to that of Pine Grosbeaks.   

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo).
Sax-Zim Bog, Minnesota. 

Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) are found through much of of the United States.  They look strikingly different on a background of snow rather than in the understory of a forest where we usually see them. 

Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus).
Sax-Zim Bog, Minnesota. 

Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) is one of the specialty birds of the bog we were seeking.  There is a lek in the bog where the birds show up even outside the breeding season.  It took three attempts at this site but we ultimately found one of these large, chicken-like birds. 

Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa).
Sax-Zim Bog, Minnesota. 

The Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) is one of the main reasons people visit the Sax-Zim Bog in winter.

These giant owls have a wingspan up to five feet, striking yellow eyes and white feathers below the face that make a "bowtie". Great Gray Owls have a large facial disk that a funnels sound to the ears and helps this predator find rodents under the snow. 

Long-eared Owl.
Hennepin County, Minnesota.

On our first day we were lucky enough to see four Long-Eared Owls (Asio otus) perched in the same tree.  Most Owls are solitary but Long-eared Owls will roost in groups like the one we found.  They have yellow eyes and a prominent facial disc with bright orange patches.  The ears of Long-eared Owls are really tufts of feathers.  Several species of owls have ear tufts and they are thought to help the birds blend in with their surroundings.  Long-eared Owls use their acute sense of hearing to catch voles and other small mammals beneath the snow in winter. 

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus).
Douglas County, Wisconsin. 

The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) is the iconic owl of the north and is another reason people travel to this area in winter.  These owls are unmistakable, they are large, white and have black markings.  Their bright yellow eyes peer from the white facial disk. Snowy Owls are found in the arctic in both the Old and New World.  Our group was fortunate to see three different Snowy Owls.  Two were near the airport in Superior, Wisconsin and the third was in the Sax-Zim Bog. The world population of Snowy Owls is declining but the reasons are not clear.  I will hazard to say global climate change is playing a major role.  

Minnesota in winter was a real experience.  As a southerner, I was very concerned about going to one  the coldest places in the country.  But, good advice from friends and Ventures Birding had us well prepared.  We had the proper equipment, an experienced guide and we had a marvelous time.