Winter Birds of Sax-Zim Bog

Sax-Zim Bog is a birder's paradise — and in winter, it only gets better. As temperatures plummet, the bog becomes a gathering ground for some of North America's most sought-after northern specialties. Songbirds, raptors, and other cold-hardy creatures concentrate here, working hard to stay warm, find food, and dodge the wind. For photographers, that means birds perched low, moving deliberately, and often astonishingly close — the kind of conditions that produce truly memorable images.

We'll be chasing all of this from the comfort of a warm vehicle. The bog will be bitterly cold — this is northern Minnesota in winter, after all — but you'll be shooting from the protected warmth of the car, windows down only when the moment calls for it. Bring your warmest layers for the times we do step out, but don't let the cold keep you away. This is exactly the kind of trip where staying comfortable and staying ready go hand in hand.

Species we may see

Boreal chickadee, Canada jays, evening and pine grosbeaks, and — if we're lucky — the elusive great grey owl. We'll also be watching for redpolls, boreal specialties, and whatever surprises the bog decides to offer up that day. Sax-Zim's reputation as one of the best winter birding destinations in the Lower 48 is well earned, and every outing here has its own rhythm and its own luck.

A Few Seasons In

I've been leading trips to Sax-Zim Bog for the past three years, and no two winters have been the same. During the 2025 irruption year, we had great grey owls nearly every single evening — silent, ghost-like shapes appearing out of the treeline as the light faded. It was the kind of season birders talk about for years. 2026 has been quieter, a good reminder that this landscape runs on its own schedule. That unpredictability is part of what makes Sax-Zim special: you come for the possibility, and the bog decides the rest.

A Typical Day

After a quick breakfast at the hotel, we'll head out from Duluth at 6am, timed to give us the best chance at catching owls near sunrise (around 7:45am). After a few hours of birding, it's time for lunch at the Wilbert Cafe.

Fueling Up

Hearty lunches will be at the wonderful Wilbert Cafe, a local institution and a welcome stop after a cold morning in the field. The coffee is strong, the meals are generous, and the desserts are absolutely worth saving room for. Fried cheese curds are optional — but highly recommended.

Afternoons

We'll continue staking out feeders, visiting Mary Lou's, and maybe working off some of that dessert with a short hike along the bog's many boardwalk trails. As evening falls — and it comes early this time of year, just before 5pm — we'll deliberately search for the elusive owls. With any luck, the food supply will be near the roads, and we'll get our chance at a great grey owl. Once it's too dark to photograph, we'll head back to Duluth for dinner and a quiet evening reviewing the day's catches.

Ready to Chase the Owls?

Spots for this small-group winter workshop are limited — the intimacy of a small crew is part of what makes it work in the field. If you're ready to spend a few days pursuing boreal chickadees, grosbeaks, and the ghost-like great grey owl in one of the best winter birding spots in the Lower 48, reach out today to reserve your seat.

Group size

The group size for this workshop will be limited to 3 attendees.