As long as the harbor has open water the a variety of water foul abound. Common goldeneye, Bufflehead, Pied-billed grebe, Lesser scaup and Greater scaup are common visitors. In the past years sea ducks such as Harlequin duck, Oldsquaw and Common eider have been observed. Horned and Western grebe have been sighted for many years now.
American bald eagles are around all winter. They fish in the harbor as long as there is some open water. Rough-legged hawk is one of the raptors that visit in winter. Sharp-shinned hawk are frequently seen stalking area bird feeders.
There are many birds that stick around and can be observed all winter. Our more common 'year round' residents include: Red-breasted nuthatch, Blue jay, Pileated woodpecker, Downy woodpecker, Hairy woodpecker, Black-capped chickadee, American goldfinch, Pine siskin, Purple finch, Ruffed grouse, Great gray owl, Great horned owl, Barred owl, American bald eagle, Common raven, and Dark-eyed junco.
If you step outside during the day in Copper Harbor, your birding. There is not a bad birding spot as you can catch some species or another just about everywhere. However, there are some great trails which offer a variety of features making several habitats accessible (and convenient). All the summer trails are not accessible in winter. However, a good way to do some birding is on the cross-country trails and on snowshoes.
Birding in the area during winter can be very exciting and rewarding. Winter brings the birds from the north that "fly south" from their summer homes. Snow bunting, Lapland longspur and Horned lark always come through along with many other fall migrants and are a sure sign that winter is just around the corner.
