7 replies to this topic

[IndigoBunting]

I live in Toronto, Ontario and am just curious if anybody know if I could see any different birds here in the winter that I can not see in the summer. Also, I go up to my cottage a few times during the winter to go skiing, which is in Port Severn Ontario. I was wondering if I would see any different birds up there in the winter thatI can't in the summer.

[GreatHorn]

Checking eBird for sightings near you is a great idea! Keep an eye out for winter finches (pine grosbeak, evening grosbeak, purple finch, pine siskin, the redpolls, and the crossbills). Watch out for waterfowl on the lakes up there (loons, grebes, mergansers, etc). There are plenty of other species like American Tree Sparrow and Northern Shirke which are here for winter only.

This winter I'm hoping for these species as well.
(I realize this is for backyard birds, so ignore the waterfowl part if you want)

[IndigoBunting]

Oh.. my cottage is on a lake so possibly might see the ducks... I am not up at my cottage that much in the winter so any clarification on whether the birds you listed would most likely be seen in Port Severn or Toronto would be helpful. Thanks.

[GreatHorn]

Oh.. my cottage is on a lake so possibly might see the ducks... I am not up at my cottage that much in the winter so any clarification on whether the birds you listed would most likely be seen in Port Severn or Toronto would be helpful. Thanks.

Probably either location! That's why eBird will be helpful for seeing what areas/specific locations winter birds are found at.

[IndigoBunting]

Rly excited... saw my first of these listed winter birds in my backyard today, the house finch, which means i'm going to be seing some new birds at my feeder now, including the ones you listed.. rly excited.

[IndigoBunting]

I was just curious what type of foods all of these birds eat so i can get the food for them, just backyardbirds bnot the waterfowl

[lonestranger]

Winter visitors in my yard that aren't usually around in the summer include dark-eyed juncos, american tree sparrow, white-throated sparrow, white-crowned sparrow, northern shrike, rough-legged hawks, to mention a few. I wouldn't expect to see much waterfowl at your cottage lake unless it's a big enough lake to have open water through the winter. Most lakes freeze over in normal winters which is why the waterfowl migrate from cottage country in our area. You should be able to see different birds at the cottage during the winter, but don't expect to see many water birds.

[IndigoBunting]

Winter visitors in my yard that aren't usually around in the summer include dark-eyed juncos, american tree sparrow, white-throated sparrow, white-crowned sparrow, northern shrike, rough-legged hawks, to mention a few. I wouldn't expect to see much waterfowl at your cottage lake unless it's a big enough lake to have open water through the winter. Most lakes freeze over in normal winters which is why the waterfowl migrate from cottage country in our area. You should be able to see different birds at the cottage during the winter, but don't expect to see many water birds.

Oh, thank you, I am exicted to descover that dark-eyed juncos winter here too. I do not think I would get rough legged hawks in my yard because in the summer I do not even get any birds of prey in my yard... itd be kinda cool if i could get that to happen... if anyone has any suggestions on that...