Winter birdwatching can seem limited, but several sites around Montreal offer great opportunities to observe birds in colder months.
First, the Marguerite D'Youville wildlife refuge that includes Ile Saint-Bernard is a great place for bird watching in winter.
Access points to open water along the St. Lawrence River and Lake St. Louis offer great chances to see ducks and other waterfowl.
In winter, bird feeders are installed and you can observe many species coming to feed. The star of the area is certainly the Tufted Titmouse, which can be seen fairly easily.
The Boisé Papineau in Laval also offers a nice assortment of feeders that attracts many species.
Walking around the many trails, you'll find a pair of Pileated woodpecker living there year round. One can also observe several owl species, including the Eastern Screech Owl, the Barred Owl, and the well-camouflaged Northern Saw-whet Owl.
If you are in the west of Montreal, make a trip to the Morgan Arboretum, which offers over 25 km of trails and several winter species such as Pine Siskin, Bohemian Waxwing, Common Redpoll, and White-winged Crossbill.
Elusive but striking, the Red-bellied Woodpecker occasionally makes brief appearances at the feeders.
For people who want to see Quebec’s provincial bird this winter, the Snowy Owl, the regions of Mirabel, St-Hubert and St-Clet provide suitable habitats for this species.
You will also find many other species in these fields including Snow Bunting, Lapland longspur and Horned Lark.
