Whether you’re an avid birder or a casual nature enthusiast, the fall migration season provides a unique opportunity to see a wide range of birds in northern Utah. In fact, millions of birds stop by the Great Salt Lake on their journey to warmer temps. On Sunday night alone, an estimated 92,000 birds flew over Salt Lake County. Here are some of the species you can see this season.
Sandhill Crane
Sandhill cranes are known for their complex mating dance. Also, the red on the top of their head is skin, not feathers. Listen to their dinosaur-like call. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is hosting a Sandhill Crane viewing day on Oct. 7 in Jensen, three hours east of Salt Lake.
An Eared Grebe in Cache County. (@cvbirder/Instagram)
Eared Grebes
Roughly 85% of the population of Eared grebes in North America use the Great Salt Lake in the fall to feed on brine shrimp. You can identify them by their distinctive, bright red eyes. They migrate largely at night and can be viewed flying in large flocks on weather radar.
An American avocet family at Farmington Bay. (@badpicsgoodbirds/Instagram)
American Avocet
Their bills are long, thin, and curved upwards. They feed by standing in shallow waters and swinging their bills back and forth to catch aquatic insects and small fish.
The brilliant colors of the Western Tanager. (@usfws/Instagram)
Western Tanager
Several songbirds that breed in Canada and winter in Central America, including the Western tanager, will make a pit stop in Utah. Although they’re diurnal (most active during the day), they usually migrate at night.
Listen to the City Cast Salt Lake podcast for a beginner’s guide to birding in Salt Lake.
