Birds To Look For This Winter: Finch Forecast Breakdown

Each year, the renowned Winter Finch Forecast lets us all know which birds we can expect to see on the move throughout the coming winter months. 

Food availability including pine crop, tree seed crop, and fruiting crop largely determines the movement patterns of winter finches, as this availability varies year to year. 

There is a forecast for each species, we will give a very brief overview of what we can expect for each in Southern Ontario and what you can offer in anticipation. 

Pine Grosbeak. Photo by Kristen Martyn. 

1. Pine Grosbeaks: Due to great food availability, most Pine Grosbeaks are anticipated to stay in the eastern boreal forests, with some coming to their traditional wintering grounds in southeastern Canada. They enjoy sunflower seed, safflower seed, and shelled peanuts. 

Purple Finch. Photo by Shayna Hartley. 

2. Purple Finches: Many Purple Finches are expected to migrate south, out of Canada, with small numbers will remaining in southern Ontario eastward. At feeders, they enjoy sunflower seed and Finch Blend. 

Redpolls. Photo by Kristen Martyn. 

3. Redpolls: There is a lot of food availability in the north. Due to Redpolls love for foraging in fields, if snow does not cover fields, a lot of them are expect to remain north. Areas in the upper midwestern states and the Maritime provinces may see more Redpoll movement as birds heading south migrate through the holes in the boreal cone crop. At feeders they enjoy hyper seed, and really enjoy tray feeders if you can offer them! Watch for them in weedy fields.

Pine Siskins. Photo by Kristen Martyn. 

4. Pine Siskins: Many Pine Siskins will remain in the boreal and western mountains this winter. However, you can expect a moderate to strong southward movement - into our courters!! - this fall. These birds have a preference for smaller seeds such as nyjer and sunflower chips (Finch Blend is a favourite!), and will readily visit feeders that are stocked with fresh seed. Preferred feeder styles are finch & tube feeders, but they will happily perch on tray, hopper, or cylinder feeders as well.

Evening Grosbeaks. Photo by Kristen Martyn. 

5. Evening Grosbeaks: should be a moderate flight of Evening Grosbeaks southward this fall. Evening Grosbeaks in northwestern Ontario westward should move out of the boreal forest, looking for feeders in towns or suitable food sources further south. Evening Grosbeaks travel in flocks, so they prefer hopper and tray-style feeders where a number of birds can feed together at the same time. However, they will ultimately feed anywhere they can perch and even enjoy eating from cylinder feeders. They eat a wide range of foods and enjoy black oil sunflower seed, sunflower chips, safflower seeds or cylinders and Bark Butter Bits. 

Wishing you all the winter finches!! 

Warmly, 

Heather