Upcoming Birding Forecast
Updated:February 1, 2007


I often refer to February as a "dead" month for birding in Utah. It is nearing the end of the winter season, but not yet time for migration. Birding wise there just isn't a whole lot going on in terms of new and fascinating birds. What seemed like an early and awesome onslaught of boreal species has seemingly slowed, and several species that were prevalent in surrounding states didn't quite make it to Utah or are being undetected. The winter finch movement lost its momentum in mid December, but the Bohemian Waxwings have been seen from the furthest north point in Utah all the way to Washington County. However, February does have several caveats that make it a unique month for birding in Utah.

Birds to be on the look out for:

Cackling Goose
Yellow-billed Loon
Gyrfalcon
Wintering Gulls
Ruff
Yellow-bellied and Red-breasted Sapsucker
Eastern Phoebe
Varied Thrush
Snow Bunting and Longspurs
Rusty Blackbird
Gray-crowned and Black Rosy-Finches
Common Redpoll

I know most will look at that list and ask if I am serious, and the answer is yes, completely! In all honesty, the chance of seeing most of these species is slim to nil, but historically, this is a good time to be on the lookout for these species.

Cackling Geese are here in the winter. It is a fact. These miniature versions of our typical Canada Geese start arriving in the late fall and spend most of the winter with flocks of Canada Geese around Utah. Be on the lookout for large flocks of Canada Geese where you can look for the Cacklers. Golf Courses, and other areas where open grass is available are often great places to look. WARNING: The Parvipes subspecies of Canada Goose is similar in size and appearance to Cackling Goose, so don't just assume a "Small" Canada Goose is a Cackling, make sure all the ID points fit.

Where there is open water there is the potential for YELLOW-BILLED LOON in Utah in February. Lake Powell has a string of records, but any of the southern reservoirs that haven't frozen over are worth checking out. Colorado has had 2 Yellow-billed Loons in the last 2 weeks.

GYRFALCON are rare in Utah but if there was a winter when I would expect to see on in Utah, this year would be it. Check out those falcons! This large falcon can show up in a variety of plumages, from white to black, and prefers hunting in wide open spaces. This species has been seen numerous times along the Idaho-Utah border in past winters.

Now is high time for WINTERING GULLS in Utah. Farmington Bay WMA and Lee Kay Ponds are each hosting their fair share of good birds this year.

In 2004 a RUFF spent nearly two weeks at Farmington Bay WMA in Davis County… in February! Although not a likely to be seen species check out those wintering dowitchers and snipe.

YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER often are found wintering in southern Utah. Lytle Ranch has several records for this species. Be on the lookout for juvenile type birds, as Red-naped Sapsucker should be completely out of juvenile plumage by this point, where Yellow-bellied often retain juvenile plumage until March. RED-BREASTED SAPSCUKER are usually more common than the aforementioned, but still quite rare in southern. There have been 2 this winter, one a Lytle Ranch and the other in Springdale, the first seen as recently as the last week in January.

While down south, if you see a funky looking Phoebe, it very well may be an EASTERN PHOEBE, either wintering, or wandering. In 2006 a single bird spent most of the month at Lytle Ranch.

February in Utah is high time for VARIED THRUSH. Perhaps the best winter specialty that is likely to be seen this time of year, check out large flocks of robins, starlings, waxwings, etc that are foraging for berries and other fruit. Riparian and residential areas typically are where these birds are seen in Utah. The Jordan River may be a good spot to spend some time looking.

This winter has been very good for Longspurs and Snow Buntings in Utah, and the next month should see a continued presence of these species. Check out those longspurs for anything odd. Both longspurs and Snow Buntings are typically mixed with flocks of Horned Larks. Agricultural areas, as well as the causeway are often very productive.

I can't stress how important it is to look closely at birds. By far one of the most overlooked species in Utah is the RUSTY BLACKBIRD. We have very few records for this species in the state, but I would guess this species is probably annual in Utah. Check out those Brewer's Blackbirds closely. Female Rusty are very distinctive, and have a yellow eye. Look for flocks of blackbirds in agricultural areas, near landfills, etc, and take the time to check for "rusty" looking birds.

Rosy-Finches. I think this is a no brainer for most of us. The feeders at the Ben Hame home on the Alta Bypass Road have been hot the last 2 weeks, with both species being present. Gray-crowned have also been seen on the causeway, at Farmington Bay and in Cache Valley in the last few weeks.

I thought for sure 07-08' would be the winter of the Redpoll in Utah, and yet here we are on February 1st, and not a single report from Utah this winter. I don't predict we will have any sightings in the next month, but late January and February have historically been a good time in the state. Based off the rather abrupt stop in movement of these birds across Idaho and Wyoming we probably will not see these birds this winter, but none-the-less, something to be on the lookout for.