Winter in Northern Minnesota

Great Gray Owl © Brian Gibbons

A unique opportunity to experience the Great North Woods during the depths of winter, as we seek northern owls, winter finches, and other birds of northern latitudes seldom seen in most parts of the United States.

A winter tour of northern Minnesota may not appeal to the average tourist, but Duluth and the surrounding vicinity have long allured birders during the coldest months of the year. Although an average trip list of birds may barely include 40 species (all of which are specialized for this environment), it is not unusual for as many as half of these to be life birds for someone in the group.

Stunning scenery encapsulates the Duluth area and beyond, with vast northern forests complementing the grandeur of Lake Superior. Even a relatively quiet winter for birding holds the likelihood of finding such northern specialties as Ruffed Grouse, Iceland and Glaucous gulls, Snowy Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, Northern Shrike, Canada Jay, Boreal Chickadee, Bohemian Waxwing, Snow Bunting, Pine and Evening grosbeaks, Red or White-winged crossbills, and Redpolls. In addition to these species, a typical winter offers a fair to even good chance of seeing both Northern Hawk Owl and Great Gray Owl, one of the focuses of this tour. Spruce and Sharp-tailed grouse are possible in the right habitat. Elusive deep forest species such as American Goshawk and American Three-toed Woodpecker are uncommon birding possibilities. Winter oddities such as Harlequin Duck, Long-tailed Duck, White-winged Scoter, Varied Thrush, and Townsend's Solitaire have been recorded on previous tours. And more than one of these tours in past years have turned up Gyrfalcon and Boreal Owl. Normal winter weather means afternoon high temperatures sometimes in the teens but, given sunshine and minimal wind, such conditions are entirely tolerable to most visitors and pleasant to residents. Proper layering can make even the coldest days of birding enjoyable.

Beginning in 2026, our new itinerary includes an additional full day of birding that will let us capitalize on unexpected birding opportunities or allow us to venture well up the scenic North Shore of Lake Superior, trek into farther-reaching woodlands, and/or backtrack if certain species have proven challenging.

This unique tour offers not just the possibility of famed northern owls, grouse, winter finches, and other highly sought specialties, but also the memorable experience of exploring remote bogs and vast boreal forests during the depths of winter. The scenery and birding on this tour hold their own special charm.

No hotel change involved in our very good quality, single-site accommodation along Lake Superior; cuisine very good to excellent; below zero temperatures likely, but all the birding is from or near the warmth of the van; early departures; mostly driving and roadside birding with little hiking; relatively short bird list.

Pine Grosbeak © Brian Gibbons