13 Birds That Spend Their Winters in Pennsylvania

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 overwinters across the state. It is a regular visitor to feeders.

2. Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)

The common goldeneye overwinters in ice-free water bodies across the state.

3. Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea)

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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

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