Owls and Winter Birding in the Boreal Forest of Minnesota

In true winter wonderland fashion, Minnesota offers picturesque scenes of snow-covered evergreens and iced-over lakes. This Minnesota birding tour focuses on a variety of birds that use Lake Superior and the boreal forest as their winter homes. We begin in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area where we will target several key species like Trumpeter Swan, American Tree Sparrow, Rough-legged Buzzard (Hawk) and Long-eared Owl. From here we move north to Duluth, which will serve as our home-base for the remainder of the trip. The famous USA birding location, Sax-Zim Bog, offers an incredible variety of habitats and is undoubtably one of the best places for amazing owls like Great Grey Owl, Northern Hawk-Owl and in good irruption years, Boreal Owl. Of course, the bog features more than just owls with other incredible boreal bird species including Evening Grosbeak, Pine Grosbeak, Ruffed Grouse and Black-backed Woodpecker. After a few days focused at Sax-Zim Bog, the tour moves up the coast of the mighty Lake Superior where we will search for Snowy Owl in the Duluth-Superior harbor. As we continue north, we will get to the small town of Grand Marais, typically a great area for Bohemian Waxwing. A run through Superior National Forest, and other nearby parks on the way north, offers a chance at spotting Spruce Grouse and Boreal Chickadee.

One of several species of owl on this tour, the Great Grey Owl surveys from atop its perch.

Most trips can vary depending on the irruptive finch species like Redpoll, Two-barred Crossbill, Red Crossbill and Purple Finch. We will have plenty of time in the area to ensure our best chances for all of these great species. After scoring these fantastic winter denizens and many more, the tour concludes back in Minneapolis-Saint Paul where folks can thaw out and make their journeys home after another unforgettable experience.

Another of our owl targets will be the beautiful Snowy Owl.