Northern Illinois Winter Birds

A winter scene from Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, IL; 1/30/11.

On my 3/19/11 post I listed several birds that migrate south to the Northern Illinois to spend their winter months in our warmer climate. It's time to say goodbye to these species after we have invited them into our yards and forests for the winter. Here are few more pics of these visitors:

The Dark-eyed Slate-colored Junco is a frequent visitor to our area, Rockford, IL; 1/14/11.

The Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco spend their summers throughout Canada and Alaska, but will be found year round in the Appalachians and the Northeast  States. In winter they will spread out throughout the U.S. except for the Florida peninsula, southern California, and the southern tip of Texas.

Bald Eagles at Starved Rock Sate park, Illinois; 1/31/09.

Bald Eagles spend their summers throughout Canada and Alaska and will be found year round along both coasts, the Great Lakes, fresh water lakes in mountains, and along major rivers. And Actually I spotted a Bald Eagle (Below) at our own Rock Cut State Park on 3/27/11. In winter they'll be found throughout the U.S. and along the Rock River, Illinois River, and Mississippi River in Illinois.

This is the best capture I could get of a Bald Eagle before it flew away out of sight, Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, IL; 3/27/11.

Snow Buntings looking for food in a field in Rockford, IL; 1/30/11.

Snow Buntings (Above) migrate south to northern half of the U.S. after spending their summer in the Arctic tundra of Alaska and Canada. While in our region of Northern Illinois, they can be found in large flocks with Horned Larks and Lapland Longspurs usually in farm fields.

A Rusty Blackbird in Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL; 3-30-11.

Rusty Blackbirds (Above) who spend their summers in Canada and Alaska can be found in the eastern half (save the southern half of Florida) of the U.S. in winter.

I'll spend the next week talking about birds who stay in Northern Illinois all year round.