View Unique Birds in Ohio During the Winter

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(Columbus) – Interesting and uncommon birds often make their way to Ohio during the winter months, and now is a great time to look for them! The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of wildlife recommends bird enthusiasts to check out state wildlife areas, nature preserves, and parks feature diverse habitats that are open to the public year-round. Many of these areas offer excellent places to view winter birds. 

Some of Ohio’s breeding birds migrate out of the state during the winter, but cold weather drives other iconic species here. Dark-eyed juncos, short-eared owls, pine siskins, and purple finches are among the species that can be found in the Buckeye State during the winter. Resident birds such as cardinals, screech-owls, woodpeckers, and many hawks remain in Ohio year-round. 
 

Dark-eyed juncos are found across Ohio in the winter.

Winter birding can be enjoyed solo or with friends. Please keep in mind that many public areas also welcome hunters, and hunting seasons for white-tailed deer and other species are underway. Wearing hunter orange clothing as a safety precaution is recommended. Hunting season dates and other regulations are listed at wildohio.gov.
 
Birders can take part in a large community science project through the annual Christmas Bird County. Visit audubon.org to find a nearby count and learn more about how bird observations can contribute to global avian research.
 
Dark-eyed junco
With the nickname of snowbirds, dark-eyed juncos are quintessential winter birds. Throughout the cold months, juncos can be found across Ohio in natural habitats with adequate food and shelter. Juncos often forage along the ground in flocks and can easily be attracted to backyards with seed scattered on the ground. Look for white outer tail feathers that flash prominently when the birds fly to help identify this species.
 
Dark-eyed juncos will be showcased in the next edition of Wild Ohio Magazine. Subscribe by Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 to have more information on this much-loved species and exceptional photographs delivered to your door.
 
Bald eagle
In Ohio, bald eagles begin courtship and pair bonding in January. Eagles typically lay eggs and incubate in February and March, nesting in large trees such as sycamores, oaks, and cottonwoods. Meanwhile, frozen lakes and rivers force the birds to expand their hunting grounds in search of fish and carrion, their foods of choice.
 

Bald eagles are highly visible along the Lake Erie shoreline.

 
In 2024, Ohio had an estimated 841 bald eagle nests. Look for eagles near their preferred aquatic habitats such as rivers, wetlands, and frozen lakes, or occasionally sitting in open fields. An eagle’s large size, dark-colored plumage, and impressive wingspan are easy to spot against snow and ice.
 
Lake Erie and other large waterbodies host the highest number of eagles because of easy access to food resources. Excellent viewing opportunities can be found at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area (Lucas and Ottawa counties), Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area (Sandusky County), Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (Lucas and Ottawa counties), Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area (Trumbull County), and Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area (Wyandot and Marion counties). In southern Ohio, look near major rivers such as the Muskingum, Hocking, Scioto, and Great Miami.  
 
Owls
Many types of owls are year-round residents in Ohio, but others are only found during the winter. Look in large grasslands for short-eared owls, which can be seen at dawn and dusk flying with deep, slow, moth-like wingbeats. Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area (Wyandot County), Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area (Guernsey, Morgan, Muskingum, and Noble counties), and Crown City Wildlife Area (Gallia and Lawrence counties) are likely spots. 
 

Eastern screech-owls becomes more vocal in the winter months.

Barred owls, great horned owls, and eastern screech-owls can be found in Ohio’s woodlands. These species become more vocal in winter as they find mates and establish territories. Listen for these species at dusk in forests and watch for their silhouettes in bare trees. Woodland Trails Wildlife Area(Preble County), Woodbury Wildlife Area (Coshocton County), and West Branch State Park (Portage County) host several owl species.
 
Waterfowl
Cold weather and freezing water force many waterfowl to fly south each winter. Look for residents of the far north like tundra swans in open marshes, lakes, and flooded fields, often mixed with flocks of slightly larger trumpeter swans. Deer Creek Wildlife Area (Pickaway, Fayette, and Madison counties), Funk Bottoms Wildlife Area (Wayne and Ashland counties), Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area (Wyandot and Marion counties), and Magee Marsh Wildlife Area(Lucas and Ottawa counties) are likely locations for winter swans. 

Diving ducks such as redheads, canvasbacks, common goldeneyes, buffleheads, mergansers, and more seek open water. Look for them at Alum Creek State Park (Delaware County), Buckeye Lake State Park (Fairfield, Licking, and Perry counties), and Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area (Trumbull County), especially as other lakes freeze.

Snow, Ross’s, cackling, and greater white-fronted geese often join flocks of Canada geese throughout the winter. Wetlands, open lakes, and agricultural areas attract these uncommon geese, which appear smaller than Canada geese. Scour locations like Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area (Holmes and Wayne counties), Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area (Sandusky County), and East Fork State Park (Clermont County) for a glimpse of out-of-the-ordinary geese. 

Many winter birds spend time in open fields and large bodies of water where they can be difficult to view. A good pair of binoculars or even a spotting scope is recommended to spot birds at long distances. It is best to observe birds from a distance to avoid disturbing them or scaring them away from scarce winter food resources. 

Consider these additional resources to enhance your bird watching experience: Common Birds of Ohio field guidebook, available at wildohio.gov, and Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird online database and mobile app. The platform offered by eBird provides users an opportunity to serve as community scientists by contributing valuable information regarding bird populations.