Best of Northern Minnesota Birding

Introduction to Birding in Northern Minnesota

The vast swaths of untouched lake and dense forest in Northern Minnesota are an ecological hotspot for a variety of awesome bird species. This area of the country offers a tremendous diversity of birds. In fact, 421 unique bird species have been identified in Minnesota, which accounts for about half of all birds recorded in North America. If you want to see birds, whether large raptors or small songbirds, Northern Minnesota is hard to beat. Let’s examine the most sought after bird species in the area before examining what time of year is the best to get out there birding in Northern Minnesota.

Most Popular Birding Species

Yellow Rail

A small bird who loves the lakes/marshes of Northern Minnesota, the Yellow Rail has gained the reputation as being one of the hardest birds to spot in North America. These birds rarely fly, instead they nest on the ground and prefer to run quickly through marsh grasses when spooked. Their unique pattern filled with yellows, browns, blacks, and white stripes are a sight to behold. Northern Minnesota proves to be a great breeding place for their elusive birds.

What time of day are they most active?

Finding Yellow Rails is a difficult task; generally it’s recommended to try and hear them first. Under the dark of night in spring is most often when male Yellow Rails make their calls, which sound like a series of insect-like clicks. 

What season is ideal for spotting them?

Seeing a Yellow Rail is a challenge, but hearing them is usually done in the spring under the darkness of night. 

Are there specific foods or plants that attract them here?

Habitat-wise, Yellow Rails love marshes and the vegetation that comes with that. A rail’s diet mostly consists of aquatic invertebrates including aquatic insects and snails. They will also, to a lesser degree, munch on seeds and other nearby aquatic vegetation.

H3 – Are sightings common year-round or seasonal?

In Northern Minnesota, Yellow Rail sightings will only be seasonal. These birds come to Minnesota marshes to breed around late April and will stay until September before migrating south for the winter.

Northern Hawk Owl

Behaving like a hawk, but looking like an owl, the Northern Hawk Owl is a sight to behold. Although not the most common in Northern Minnesota, sightings have been known to happen. Unlike other owls, the Northern Hawk Owl will sit on an open perch waiting for prey in broad daylight, similar to a hawk. However, their oval body, round face, and large eyes are very typical for an owl. They’re noted to not fear humans much, and thus can be easier to see than some of its more elusive owl cousins. 

What time of day are they most active?

Northern Hawk Owls are most active during the day as they sit on perches hunting. During the night, they tend to roost tucked in amongst tree branches making them difficult to spot.

What season is ideal for spotting them?

In Northern Minnesota, Northern Hawk Owls are only seasonal during the winter. During most of the year, the Northern Hawk Owl will stay north in the boreal forests of Canada.

Are there specific foods or plants that attract them here?

Northern Hawk Owls are mammal eaters and have been known to expand their range in so-called “invasion years” in search of larger small-mammal populations. These “invasions” may be the best time to see a hawk owl in Northern Minnesota.

Are sightings common year-round or seasonal?

During the winter, especially when their usual food populations dwindle, are the best times to see Northern Hawk Owls in Northern Minnesota.

Bald Eagle

America’s bird, the huge Bald Eagle always makes for a great sighting. Their large wingspan combined with the iconic white head and yellow beak makes these birds easier to identify than most, especially as they circle the skies over water searching for their next meal. Once a rarity, Bald Eagles have recovered tremendously as a species to where there are today with a healthy population of nesting pairs. 

What time of day are they most active?

Very sight-driven, Bald Eagles are most active during the day as they hunt for fish and build nests. For the best chances to spot them, head towards water as they spend a lot of time over lakes, rivers, and reservoirs.

What season is ideal for spotting them?

While available to see year-round in Northern Minnesota, winter is typically seen as the best time to potentially get a spotting as they tend to congregate on lakes. 

Are there specific foods or plants that attract them here?

Bald Eagles are very tied to fish prey, which means they are attracted to lakes and rivers where they can access food. 

Are sightings common year-round or seasonal?

In Northern Minnesota, Bald Eagle sightings are common year-round. Winter is generally seen as the most productive time to see Bald Eagles as they congregate during the cold months.

Common Loon

Common Loons are a large, water-dwelling bird known for their black and white coloring, their red eyes, and their eerie calls that carry over lakes. Most often seen in larger bodies of water, the Common Loon tends to struggle on land, typically only coming to shore for nesting. These birds use Northern Minnesota for breeding and are generally easier to hear and see than most. Minnesota is home to the second-largest population of Common Loons in the United States.

What time of day are they most active?

Common Loons are an active bird, especially during the breeding season. Most often, they can be seen cruising around the surface of lakes/rivers searching for fish food. These birds are incredible divers once food is spotted. Loons are also active at night during the breeding season with their iconic loon calls. 

What season is ideal for spotting them?

Spring and summer tend to be the best times to spot a Common Loon in Northern Minnesota during their breeding season. Hearing them is easier to do during this time. Come September, loons migrate south towards the Atlantic Coast for warmer weather. 

Are there specific foods or plants that attract them here?

Common Loons eat a large amount of fish. They are attracted to the vast amounts of water present throughout Northern Minnesota where they eat well.

Are sightings common year-round or seasonal?

Given that the Common Loon migrates south during the winter, they can only be seen seasonally during the warmer spring and summer months where the loon comes to Northern Minnesota to breed.

Canada Warbler

A small, energetic bird known for its bright yellow chest and throat, with a pale gray back, the Canada Warbler is always a welcomed sight. These beautiful little creatures love to forage through forests. Declining population numbers have made sightings more rare than in the past. Canada Warblers are known for flying across large distances for migration with some wintering in South America.

What time of day are they most active?

Canada Warblers are most active during the day as they forage through dense forests on the hunt for insects, their favorite food. Always listen for their singing, typical of other songbirds. 

What season is ideal for spotting them?

In Northern Minnesota, summer represents the best season to spot a Canada Warbler as they sometimes use the dense Northern Minnesota forests for breeding. Besides breeding time, Canada Warblers are sometimes seen during the spring and fall as they migrate to and from wintering spots in Central/South America. 

Are there specific foods or plants that attract them here?

Canada Warblers feed most often on insects. They utilize multiple strategies to forage their insect food. They prefer dense undergrowth and old forests for breeding and protection.

Are sightings common year-round or seasonal?

Canada Warblers are most commonly seen during the summer in Northern Minnesota as they breed and occasionally during the spring and fall as they migrate through.

This northeast Minnesota territory is part of Voyageurs National Park and offers many outdoor activities, such as kayaking, biking, hiking, and backpacking. Visitors from all over Minnesota, Wisconsin, and beyond travel to Crane Lake to enjoy the vast wilderness and explore the beauty of its many lakes and waterways. There are many local accommodations from cabin rentals to fishing tours with family fun activities for all ages. Contact us today to learn more about Crane Lake and plan your visit!

Birding Through the Seasons

Birding is a constantly evolving practice that can change drastically through the seasons. Depending on your favorite birds, you may prefer one season to another. But in general, each season can offer its own advantages for birding in Northern Minnesota. Here are some of the birding highlights from each season:

Spring

Spring is an exciting time of year to bird in Northern Minnesota as May is generally considered the busiest month for birding here. April marks the return of many shorebirds while May is when a huge influx of migrating birds come to the area to set up. This transitions into June when many of the birds are set-up and begin courting one another.

Summer

The summer is a fantastic time to go birding in Northern Minnesota. Many breeding birds set-up throughout the landscape, put on their brightest colors, and sing to the skies. June and July are the best as Late July and August marks the beginning of some birds starting migrations south.

Autumn

Come fall, many nesting birds begin to migrate south. Other birds, usually raptors, from Canada will begin to drop into Northern Minnesota. October is the best month for seeing rare/unusual bird species in Northern Minnesota. November sees away the rest of the ducks as winter begins to set in.

Winter

Raptors from the north make up a great amount of the winter birding in Northern Minnesota. Owls in particular make for great winter birding targets, but aren’t the only visitors as they are often joined by Snow Buntings, Redpolls, and Tree Sparrows as well.

Other Popular Species in the Area

Throughout the year, there is no lack of diversity in bird species you can observe in Northern Minnesota. 421 different bird species have been recorded in Minnesota, with the greatest diversity being found in Northern Minnesota. For finding birds, this part of the country is matched by few others. 

Check out the list accepted by the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee for a comprehensive collection of bird species recorded in the state. https://moumn.org/lists.html

Conclusion: Birding in Northern Minnesota

Northern Minnesota is one of the premier destinations in America for birding. The dense forests and plethora of lakes create perfect habitat for a huge variety of bird species. For its diversity, few other places see as many different birds as Northern Minnesota does. These exquisite birding opportunities aren’t limited to certain months either as each season offers its own unique lineup of birds that can be viewed as they utilize the forests of Northern Minnesota. If you consider yourself a serious birder, or even just love seeing/hearing unique birds go about their days, Northern Minnesota needs to be on your bucket list of places to go!