While Pennsylvania has many year-round resident birds, others only make their home in the state for part of the year. Some birds just spend their summer breeding season in Pennsylvania, then in autumn migrate back down south for the winter. However, for other birds that breed further north in New England and Canada, Pennsylvania is their southern winter home!
For some of these species, migration into Pennsylvania is a reliable annual event. However, others are irruptive migrators whose seasonal movements vary based on food availability. For those species, irruptions into Pennsylvania vary from year to year in both range and abundance. Here are 13 birds that usually call Pennsylvania home only during the winter months, and where and when you can expect to see them.
1. American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)

The American tree sparrow measures 6 in (15 cm) in length.
©Jukka Jantunen/Shutterstock.com
The American tree sparrow overwinters across the state. It is a regular visitor to feeders.
2. Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)

The common goldeneye measures 18 – 20 in (45 – 51 cm) in length.
©iStock.com/Jeff Kingma
The common goldeneye overwinters in ice-free water bodies across the state.
3. Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea)

The common redpoll measures 5 in (13 cm) in length.
©FotoRequest/Shutterstock.com
The common redpoll is an irruptive migrator that in some years can be found across the state during the winter. It will visit feeders.
4. Double-Crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

The double-crested cormorant measures 31 – 35 in (79 – 89 cm) in length with up to a 4.3 ft (1.3 m) wingspan.
©iStock.com/BrianLasenby
The double-crested cormorant can be seen across the state during autumn migration but only overwinters in the southeastern corner of the state in the Delaware River area.
5. Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus)

The evening grosbeak measures 8 in (20 cm) in length.
©FotoRequest/Shutterstock.com
The evening grosbeak is an irruptive migrator that in some years can be found across the state during the winter. It will visit feeders.
6. Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)

The fox sparrow measures 7 in (18 cm) in length.
©Mircea Costina/Shutterstock.com
The fox sparrow can be seen across the state during autumn migration but only overwinters in the southern half of the state. It will visit ground feeders.
7. Gadwall (Mareca strepera)

The gadwall measures 19 in (43 cm) in length.
©Hayley Crews/Shutterstock.com
The gadwall can be seen across the state during autumn migration but only overwinters in shallow wetlands in the northern edge and southeastern corner of the state.
8. Green-Winged Teal (Anas carolinensis)

The green-winged teal measures 14 – 15 in (36 – 38 cm) in length.
©J Edwards Photography/Shutterstock.com
The green-winged teal can be seen across the state during autumn migration, but only overwinters in shallow wetlands in the southeastern region and the northwestern corner of the state.
9. Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)

The northern shoveler measures 19 – 21 in (48 – 53 cm) in length.
©Eric Santin/iStock via Getty Images
The northern shoveler can be seen across the state during autumn migration but only overwinters in wetlands, ponds, and lakes in the southeastern corner of the state.
10. Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus)

The pine siskin measures 5 in (13 cm) in length.
©Menno Schaefer/Shutterstock.com
The pine siskin is an irruptive migrator that can be seen across the northern half of the state in some years, and statewide during heavy invasion years. It will visit thistle feeders.
11. Ruby-Crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)

The Ruby-Crowned Kinglet averages 4 in (10 cm) in length.
©iStock.com/mirceax
The ruby-crowned kinglet can be seen across the state during autumn migration but only overwinters in the state’s southeastern region.
12. Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)

The tundra swan measures 50 – 54 in (127 – 137 cm) in length with up to a 5.5 ft (1.7 m) wingspan.
©hay_mn97/Shutterstock.com
The tundra swan can be seen across the state during autumn migration but only overwinters in the southeastern corner of the state in the Delaware River area.
13. White-Crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)

The white-crowned sparrow measures 6.5 – 7.5 in (16.5 – 19 cm) in length.
©Rbrown10/Shutterstock.com
The white-crowned sparrow can be seen across the state during autumn migration but only overwinters in the southern third of the state. It will visit ground feeders.
Summary of 13 Birds That Spend Their Winters in Pennsylvania
Species | Annual or Irruptive Migrator | Where Found in Winter |
---|---|---|
American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) | annual | statewide |
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) | annual | statewide |
Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) | irruptive | statewide |
Double-Crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) | annual | SE corner of state (Delaware River area) |
Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) | irruptive | statewide |
Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) | annual | S half of state |
Gadwall (Mareca strepera) | annual | N edge and SE corner of state |
Green-Winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) | annual | SE region and NW corner of state |
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) | annual | SE corner of state |
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) | irruptive | statewide (more common in N half of state) |
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) | annual | SE region |
Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) | annual | SE corner of state (Delaware River area) |
White-Crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) | annual | S third of state |
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