On chilly winter days, it’s tempting to grab the remote and dive onto the couch. Need some motivation to get outside? Try to spot these seven birds that make Scarborough their winter home. Thanks to Andrew Mackie, Executive Director of Scarborough Land Trust, for this list of birds and tips for finding them. Good luck!

American Black Duck

This darker cousin of the Mallard Duck can be spotted at Pine Point and along Scarborough Marsh (try the Eastern Trail and Blue Point Preserve). They also enjoy freshwater ponds along roadways and in housing developments. They interbreed with Mallards and are becoming rarer as the Mallard population grows. 

Common Eider

Flocks of this sea duck expand in winter when resident birds are joined by others migrating south from the Arctic and Canada. They are often found along rocky outcrops and sea walls. Look for them at Ferry Beach, Pine Point and Higgins Beach. Eiders line their nests with soft, warm feathers they pull from their breast. In Iceland, these are harvested for use in commercial products like comforters and pillows.

Long-tailed Duck

These diving birds spend summers in the Arctic and winters along the Northeastern U.S. coast. They feed on mollusks and crustaceans in shallow coastal waters. The males have attractive white and black feathers and a long, distinctive tail. Ferry Beach, Higgins Beach, and Pine Point are all excellent locations to search for them. 

Red-throated Loon

Another Arctic nester spending the winters off the Northeast Coast, this species is smaller and more slender than Common Loons, and has an up-turned bill. Check shallow coastal waters and bays, including Scarborough Marsh. Another diving bird, these loons chase small fish, using their legs and feet to propel through the water. 

Hawks

A number of hawks visit Scarborough every winter, settling into places with a mix of fields and forest, such as Fuller Farm Preserve. Commonly spotted species include the Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk (pictured), and Rough-legged Hawk. Some species hunt small birds while others search for rodents scurrying through fields.

Pine Grosbeak

Pine Grosbeaks favor the conifer forests of Northern Maine and Canada, but sometimes venture south if conifer seed production is low. Because of their irregular movements, they are called “irruptive migrants.” They love berries, so the fruit trees at Pleasant Hill Preserve are a good place to check. 

Red- and White-Winged Crossbills

Another species of “irruptive migrants”, these birds have unique bills that let them pry open pinecones to reach the seeds inside. The top and bottom parts of their bills cross over each other. Search for them in areas with pine, spruce, and fir trees, such as Fuller Farm Preserve, Sewell Woods Preserve, and Hemlock Grove Preserve. 

Photos: Myoka Swarnyk, Rhododendrites, Wolfgang Wander, Steve Garvie, Steve Berardi, Bill Bouton, and Michelle L. St.Sauveur via Wikimedia Commons