Migration is in full swing throughout the state with our first large influx of short-distance migrants and winter residents. The past week has brought the first migrant loons to southern Wisconsin as well as wintering juncos to the southern tier of counties. Blackbirds are now gathering at large communal roosts and flying out to agricultural fields in the morning. Blue-winged teal, wood ducks, and other early waterfowl migrants have moved through the state but recent cold fronts have pushed in our first influx of diving ducks and American wigeon. The next week should bring a large influx of canvasbacks to the Upper Mississippi refuge and our first groups of tundra swans. Cold weather in Canada and the northern tier of states should have brought a large push of woodcock into the state and the first real movement of saw-whet and long-eared owls. Birders looking for migrant raptors should start seeing good pushes of red-tailed hawks, harriers and our first wintering golden eagles and rough-legged hawks in the upcoming two weeks. Birders along Lake Michigan should start seeing better numbers of migrant diving ducks, grebes and loons in the next week. This week should bring the first wintering shrikes, snow buntings and tree sparrows statewide. As always, please report bird sightings to eBird Wisconsin (ebird.org/WI) to help better track migrant bird populations.
