Bird Photography in the Winter

by David Lilly
October 4, 2014

Blue Jay

Many bird photographers are challenged to find birds to photograph in the winter. However, there are many birds to photograph in winter in all parts of Canada. For example, there are an average of 150 birds in every province in Canada in the winter, except Newfoundland.

 

 

Snowbunting

I call it winter when most of the migrating birds have gone south of the 49th parallel. In Alberta by late October most of the migratory birds have passed through. So, what birds are left for photographers?

Rough-legged Hawk

In 2011 I photographed the Snow Bunting and a Surf Scoter on October 26. Two birds only seen in winter in Southern Canada. Snowy Owls will make there appearances around mid November by can be seen as early as the end of September in Alberta. By mid October Rough Legged Hawks have made their long trip south and winter in southern Canada. Not to far behind are the Red-polls, American Tree Sparrows and Hoary Red-polls.

 

 

Common Redpoll

 

 

Winged Crossbills, Bohemian Waxwings, Cedar Waxwings will be seen munching on cones at the top of trees during the winter months. Many of the smaller owls are present all winter in Canada and are easier to to spot with no leaves on the trees. The Hawk Owls return in the winter and are usually easy to see because they sit on the top of spruce trees.

 

 

Bohemian Waxwing

 

Last winter I finally photographed a Northern Goshawk.

 

 

Northern Goshawk

 

The above birds are some of the birds we only see in the winter. However, there are many year-round birds that call Canada home even in the frigid weather. The beautiful Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, Both the White and Red-breasted Nuthatches. All three chickadees can be photographed during the winter months.

 

Ruffed Grouse

I have photographed many winter birds at bird feeders. Open water in rivers are good places to photograph ducks and geese in the winter. Snowy Owls can be seen in the more open areas on the Prairies.

 

 

Snowy Owl

 

 

 

Female and male Common Mergansers

 

Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers are my favourite winter birds, they are easy to find and photograph in most wooded areas.

 

 

Hairy Woodpecker

 

 

Downy Woodpecker

 

For a complete list of winter birds by province see the following link. http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/maybank/other/abwinter.htm

This is David Lilly's 9th article for the Canadian Nature photographer.

 

See David's other Bird Photography articles on the Canadian Nature photographer

• David Lilly - Newfoundland Undiscovered Country
• David Lilly - Loons of Lac Le Jeune
• David Lilly - Pheasant Photography
• David Lilly - Photographing Yellow Warblers
• David Lilly - Bird Adventures in Florida
• David Lilly - Dancing with Sharp-Tailed Grouse
• David Lilly - Birds of a Feather Flock Together
• David Lilly - The What, When and Where of photographing Birds
• David Lilly - Scavenger Birds
• David Lilly -Reflecting on Birds

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