WINTER MIGRANTS
Winter migrants are birds that have returned from their summer breeding ranges to winter on and around Vancouver Island. Ducks are the most abundant group, but there are also some songbirds, seabirds, gulls, and shorebirds. There are a few migrants like the White-throated Sparrow that occasionally stay the whole winter here until this becomes a definite trend with a reasonable number of birds I'm excluding them for now.
SONGBIRDS
There are a few migrant songbirds that are hardy enough to winter on Vancouver Island. The most distinctive and unique is the Northern Shrike that behaves more like a menacing raptor. As for more the more docile songbirds there are three that I can think of: Western Meadowlark and the Golden-crowned Sparrow and Lincoln Sparrows. Some might include the Fox Sparrow and Hermit Warbler but they both nest regularly on the island in addition to their winter presence so I consider them year-round birds.
The Northern Shrike nests around open areas in the Boreal Forest and hangs out around estuaries and meadows when down south. It is actually a songbird but has the personality and demeanor of a bird of prey. It has the hooked bill of a raptor but not the talons. Besides preying on small birds and rodents, the shrike also predates large insects like grasshoppers, wasps, beetles, and spiders. It is known by some as the "butcher bird" because of the way it stores prey by skewering it on a thorn or barbed wire or wedging it in the crotch of a branch.
Immature birds are mostly all brown, but they gradually turn all gray, black and white as they moult into adult plumage
Western Meadowlark - There is actually a single breeding bird record for Vancouver Island, but it is probably a case of extra-limital breeding. Most of the meadowlarks are winter migrants to Vancouver Island. They breed inland across southern Canada from BC to Ontario and throughout most of the western half of the US.. During the winter They are often seen at the Nanaimo River estuary, on the southern Vancouver Island farm fields, and occasionally at Clover and Cattle Point.
The Golden-crowned Sparrow's summer nesting range extends from mainland BC up to the western Alaska coast. It is abundant on Vancouver Island during the winter and is usually found foraging around grassy fields and meadows close to hedgerows. During the spring the island population is augmented by hordes of migrants from south. Gardeners on Quadra Island refer to them as "pea birds" as the migrating flocks seem to arrive just in time to devour the pea sprouts.
SEABIRDS
There are several seabird species that migrate to Vancouver Island for the winter. The largest are the Pacific and Yellow-billed loons. (The Common and Red-throated Loons are not included because they have substantial nesting presences on Vancouver Island and are considered a year-round bird.) The smallest seabirds are the Western, Red-necked, and Horned Grebes. All of our alcids like the Rhinoceros Auklet, Marbled Murrelet, Tufted Puffin, and Common Murre are year-round birds except for the Ancient Murrelet.
Like most seabirds, the Pacific Loons spend most of their winter in drab unmarked winter plumage, but as nesting season approaches an amazing transformation transpires. They moult into crisply patterned and coloured breeding plumage. One of the best locations to see them in close proximity in their finest plumage is along the shoreline of Campbell River during the month of May just before they depart for their northern Canada and Alaskan breeding areas.
Yellow-billed Loons are the largest of our loon species. They are uncommon but regularly reported during the winter. Most tend to stay far offshore which is a testament to their prodigious underwater swimming ability as they search the deep water for prey. Apparently, they can swim up to 200 m underwater. They are also powerful fliers and have been clocked at 40 mph. I was fortunate to have several near-shore encounters - two at Deep Bay and two at Schooner Cove marina. I would love to see one in its amazing breeding plumage, but that may have to wait for another lifetime when I have another chance to visit the Arctic.
To see Red-necked grebes in full breeding plumage you need to go the Okanagan or locations further north and/or east. The photo above shows partial breeding plumage in late April off Deep Bay. During the winter they tend to forage a fair distance offshore for fish and crustaceans. They swallow smaller prey underwater but surface with large larger prey to subdue it by repeated biting.
Horned grebes are a drab gray and white during the winter except for the distinctive bright red eye that shines like a stop light. As they moult into breeding plumage their heads turn black with a dashing flare of orange feathers that swish into "horns." Look for them in mid-April before they head east for their nesting sites.
Red-necked Grebe in winter plumage
Western Grebe populations have decreased significantly over the past 3 decades when flocks of 1000's were reported in various areas of the Salish Sea. Nowadays you're luck to see a couple here and there.
Ancient Murrelets winter off the west coast of North America and the east coast of Asia. During the summer they nest in burrrows on small islands off the Pacific coast and the Aleutian Islands. During the winter flocks can be seen from the east coast of Vancouver Island as the pass through the Salish Sea. They are powerful swimmers and can literally fly underwater in pursuit of small fish and invertebrates. A winter trip on the Lasqueti ferry might be the best chance to photograph them unless you have your own boat.
GULLS
Gulls are often taken for granted or ignored by the general public, but they are an essential part of our avian landscape. During the winter they are found mostly around the waterfront, farm fields, and landfills. During the summer some Glaucous-winged and Short-billed will nest here but most species will migrate to other locations. The Iceland, Ring-billed, Bonaparte's, and Herring Gulls migrate north while the California heads east as far as the prairie provinces. Gulls that regularly migrate to Vancouver Island for the winter include the Iceland, Bonaparte's, Herring, California, and Ring-billed.
above - The Iceland gull (formerly Thayer's) nests in far north on the coast of Arctic Islands. It feeds mainly on fish but when fish is not available it will feed on mussels, snalils, carrion, fish discards, eggs, chicks, plants, and berries. During the winter it usually hangs out with other Iceland gulls. Like the other gulls, the Iceland will feast on herring roe in the spring to bulk up their fat reserves before migrating to their nesting areas.
Bonaparte's Gulls are Vancouver Island's smallest gull with an average length of 13.5 inches. They are most distinctive with their dapper black heads during the breeding season. They are mainly white in their non-breeding plumage during the winter. They nest inland across Canada from BC to Ontario and up to the Boreal forest and into Alaska. They feed by plucking small fish from the waterways and plucking insects out of the air. During the herring season they join the many other gulls and shorebirds to dine on herring eggs.
California gulls nest inland across BC and the prairie provinces.
Herring gull
DUCKS
By far the largest group of winter migrants is the ducks. There are almost 20 migrating duck species that winter on Vancouver Island. Some are uncommon like the Eurasian Wigeon and Ruddy duck while others are abundant like the American Wigeon and Surf Scoter. Unfortunately, like many other bird species, duck populations also appear to be declining. Although I don't have any hard data, in the past huge rafts of scoters and other ducks would congregate for the herring spawn. In recent years the rafts have been only about 30 - 40% of the rafts 20 years ago. According to the IUCN the Black Scoter has declined 50% since 1950 and is now considered NEAR THREATENED. The picture is the same for the Greater Scaup and Long-tailed ducks with population declines in North America of 50% in the past 40 years. I suspect habit loss as the main culprit long with a host of other problems like pollution and declining food resources.
The Long-tailed ducks are the favorite for photographers. They are fun to watch as they dive in unison, and their mellow yodelling call is soothing to the soul. They are also noted for their prodigious diving prowess using their wings to propell themselves down as deep as 60 m in search of marine invertebrates and small fish. No surprisingly, the females have received the short end of the plumage as only the males sport the stylish long tail.
The Harlequin Duck is notable for the dramatic style and colour of the male. Bold white markings separate the chestnut coloured flanks from the grayish blue neck and head. Like many other duck species, the female has a muted brown back and gray protective colouration. They are often found along rocky shorelines and frequenly suffer broken bones when bashed against the rocks in rough weather.
Did you know that Buffleheads are rarely seen on land? They are our smallest duck and often seen in small groups on salt and fresh water. The males are mostly white with an irridescent purple and green head accented by a large posterior white patch. The females are brownish with a distinctive white cheek patch. They nest inland across Canada from BC to Quebec utilizing woodpecker cavities.
The Barrow's Goldeneyes are attractive ducks that nest inland in BC and as far north as Alaska. Large groups are seen on the Nanaimo River in November to catch the end of the salmon spawn. After that they retreat in small family groups to secluded bays and inlets. The males are striking with their irridescent purlish or green heads, white crescent face patches, and white windows on the black shoulders. Females are mainly brown with a small orange bill. There is a small nesting population in the mountains of Vancouver Island so a case can be made to consider it a year-round species.
Block Scoters are gregarious diving ducks subsisting mainly on mussels and clams. The males are silky black with an unmistakable golden knob on the bill and the females are mostly brown with a pale face and yellowish bill. They nest in the Arctic along the coasts of Alaska and Yukon. During the winter they flock together and dive sychronously in shallow waters for clams and mussels. The shellfish is swallowed whole and ground up in the gizzard.
White-winged scoters are large diving ducks that dine on clams, mussels, and oysters which they swallow whole. The males are all black with except for a white Nike swoosh under each eye and white wing patches. The females are all brown except for two round white patches on the face and the white wing patches. They are the largest of the three scoter species.
Male Surf Scoters are distinctive with their clown-like large, flamboyant orange, red, and yellow bills while the females are mostly brown. They are often found with other scoters diving in shallow waters for clams and mussels. During the herring spawn thousands of scotors join in giant rafts to enjoy the herring eggs and larvae and fatten up for their migration to northern Canada and Alaska.
Green-winged Teals are our smallest dabbling duck, and during the winter they are widespread from soutwestern BC and throughout western and southeastern US. Their breeding range extend across Canada an Alaska. Males are extremely dapper with an irridecent green stripe on its cinamon brown head, vertical white shoulder stripe, and fine gray barring on their flanks. The Eurasian subspecies has a horizontal white stripe instead of a vertical shoulde stripe.
Common Goldeneyes are medium-sized diving ducks that are common all across Canada in the breeding season and all across the US and Pacific coast in the winter time. With only one confirmed nesting record on Vancouver Island I am considering them as a winter migrants. The males are outstanding with their irridescent green triangular heads. The female in brown with an orange-tipped black beak when in breeding plumage.
Red-breasted Mergansers are long and slim ducks noted for flying speed of up to 130 km/h in level flight. They are also very swift swimming speed in the underwater pursuit of fish. One of their strategies in pursuing prey is to work as a posse to trap schools of fish in a small area for easy pickings. Like other mergansers, they have serrated bills suited for securely gripping slippery prey like fis and crustaceans. Because of their powerful flying ability they seem to linger well into spring before flying off to their northern Canadian and Alaskan nesting sites.
Just like some whales, the Northern Shovelers are filter feeders. Their large hunky bills are lined with projections called lamellae to form a screen to release water while retaining food items like crustaceans, invertebrates, and seeds. On Vancouver Island they are found mainly in marshes and flooded fields on the southeasrn quadrant of the island. Their nesting range is east in the praire provinces and as far north as Alaska.
Large flocks of Greater Scaups continue to arrive annually for the herring spawn but their abundance has declined significantly. Pre-spawn flocks around Vancouver Island are now few and far between. They are diving ducks that feed on aquatic invertebrates and plants.
Lesser Scaups are distinguished from the Greater Scaups by their taller foreheads and top knot at the back peak of the head. Vancouver Island is at the northern tip of the Lesser Scaups winter range so they are not abundant. Like the Greater Scaups, they also dive for aquatic invertebrates and plants.
The reddish-brown ring at the base of the neck of Ring-necked Ducks is only visisble on a sunny day when the ducks have their necks extended. Males are very distinctive with their black head and body contrasted by whitish flanks. They are often found in shallow ponds with the dabblers, but they are actually diving ducks that forage underwater for plants and aquatic invertebrates.
Male Gadwalls lack the flashy colours of many male ducks, but they are very handsome with the delicate paterns on their muted gray and brown plumage. Females are similar to Mallard females. Their main food is vegetation supplemented by aquatic invertebrates. Surprisingly, these mild-mannered ducks enjoy pirating food from coots and other ducks.
The American Wigeons are one of the most abundant ducks that winter on Vancouver Island, but like most ducks their populations are still declining. The males are very distinctive a white pate and irridescent green stripe from their eyes to the back of their necks. American Wigeons are mainly dabblers and vegetarians.
There is no problem identifying the red-headed male Eurasian Wigeons, but the females are more of a challenge . The females (left) are similar to the American Wigeon (right) but have a lighter coloured head and no black margin at the base of their bills. (Hybrids further complicate identifications.) The Eurasian Wigeons are long distant migrants from Asia.
The elegant Northern Pintails nest all across Canada and Alaska, and they are one of the first migrants to return for the winter. They are easily identified with their long elegant necks and distinctive tails. As with most ducks the female is a plain brown while the male is dapper with a chocolate brown head, white throat, and gray flanks.
20 years ago large flocks of Ruddy ducks wintered on Quamichan Lake, but none have been reported there in recent years. Only the occasional Ruddy has been reported on Vanncouver Island in the past decade, and they have all been females or immatures in brown winter plumage. Breeding males like the photo above are seldom seen here.
Trumpeter Swans are a conservation success story. Excessive hunting not just for meat but also feathers for the female fashion market brought the swans to the brink of extinction in 1933 when less that 150 breeding adults were left. Fortunately, extensive conservation efforts have been successful and by 2015 their population had increased to 63,000. The Trumpeters are the largest waterfowl with an average weight of 25 pounds and a length of 5 feet. They have a significant winter presence on Vancouver Island where they feed mainly on aquatic vegetation on shallow fresh water marshes and estuaries.
SHOREBIRDS
The obliging Black Turnstones inhabit rocky shorelines where they flip over stones, shells, seaweed, and debris as they forage for aquatic invertebrates, crustaceans, and small shellfish. If you move slowly you can often get close enough for detailed observations or photographs of their activities. At breeding time their brown plumage turns to black and a white patch appears between the base of the bill and eye. They migrate to the Alaskan coast for the nesting season.
Black-bellied Plovers inhabit the Pacific and Atlantic shorelines of North and South America during the winter. During the winter they have white bellies and do not aquire their black bellies, throats, and chins until breeding time. In typical plover behavior, they run a few steps then stop to grab a worm, aquatic invertebrate, or crustacean then run a few more steps. They migrate to the Arctic coast of Canada and Alaska for their nesting time.
Surfbirds inhabit the rocky shoreline of the Pacific from Alaska to Chili where they forage for intertidal invetebrates like barnacles, snails, bivalve mollusks, and algae. As breeding time approaches, their plumage lightens and rufous flecks appear on the scapulars. Their breeding range is mainly in Alaska, and their nests are scrapes on the alpine tundra.
Rock Sandpipers are one of the hardiest shorebirds. They winter on the Pacific shorelines from California to Alaska, and nest on the coast of Alaska and Asia. They are often in the company of Surfbirds, Black Turnstones, and Sanderlings as they forage for insects, mollusks, crustaceans, and worms. For a balanced diet they also consume berries, seeds, moss, and algae.
Dunlin are abundant shorebirds along the Pacific and Atlantic coast of North America. They are found in large flocks all around Vancouver Island during the winter while they are in their dun or brownish plumage. But as the temperatures increase with the length of the days they begin to moult into their bright breeding plumage of red backs and black bellies (photo below). Near the end of the herring season their populations are enhanced by migrants from the south who arrive just in time to bulk up on herring eggs before continuing to the Arctic coast nesting areas.
Sanderlings nest in the high Arctic but they have a global presence during the winter. They are uncommon on the east coast of Vancouver Island, but common in flocks on the west coast where they chase the waves out and in as they forage for small invertebrates.
Dunlin don't really need the long bill because it forages for invertebrate near the surface of the water or substrate. However, it save some energy by not having to bend over as much.