The 2025 - 2026 Winter Finch Forecast

🐦‍⬛❄️ The Winter Finch Forecast is out, and it could be an interesting winter for bird enthusiasts. Each year the Finch Research Network studies forest conditions in Canada to forecast the probability of an irruption of certain bird species.

                                    Pine Siskins

An irruption -- a large influx of unexpected visitors -- in the bird world occurs when conditions in a bird's normal habitat causes them to move in search of food. The Boreal Forest in Canada is home to many bird species. More wildfire activity, drought or excessive rain there can impact the availability of food, and some species will move from their normal ranges in search of better conditions.

This year’s report indicates there is a good chance we’ll get to see Redpolls, Pine Siskins, and/or Red-breasted Nuthatches -- birds we rarely see or don't see regularly. We are already seeing Red-breasted Nuthatches in the area. Slightly smaller than White-breasted Nuthatches and with a buff-colored chest, Red-breasted Nuthatches like to forage high in treetops and at our feeders.

Have your binoculars ready – and let us know who is visiting your feeders in the coming months.

Bird geeks, read the entire report here ➡️ https://finchnetwork.org/winter-finch-forecast-2025-2026