Cranes select a mate when they are 4-years old and live as many as 25 to 30 years with the same mate. Somehow they can find their winter home despite never having seen it before, and return the following spring to where they were born. Spring Birds of Wisconsin (March, April, May) In some ways, springtime in Wisconsin is like that one relative found in many families: the one who frequently shows up late, sometimes makes a scene, but who bears such charm and gifts that all is forgiven. Hawk migration begins in mid-September and continues through October. Warbler migration begins in late August and peaks in early September. Sandhill cranes are on the move in fall and spring when they migrate to and from Florida where they spend the winter months. In fact, some might argue that springtime in Wisconsin is an oxymoron. Alma – This tiny 19th century river town is situated on the upper Mississippi River in western Wisconsin. Use a calendar or birding journal to note when you last see certain bird species each autumn, and within a few years, you will be able to reliably predict when their seasonal migration will begin. Black: Rufous or Rust: Yellow: Gray: Brown: Red: Olive: White: Buff: Orange: Blue: Sheen or Iridescence: Black-headed Grosbeak. Migrating birds can cover thousands of miles in their annual travels, often traveling the same course year after year with little deviation. Flocks: Many migratory birds, particularly swifts and swallows, will form tremendous flocks in the fall just before leaving on their migration journey. The males are black with bright orange plumage and the females are black with a duller brown. They return to Wisconsin's marshes in March. Wings have conspicuous white patches. Black-headed Grosbeak: Large, stocky finch, black-streaked, orange-brown back, black head, wings, tail.

Breast is orange-brown and belly is yellow. Males are slightly larger than the females. Migration of hundreds of bird species into Wisconsin will crescendo up until mid-May, said Craig Thompson, who works for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' Natural Heritage Conservation Program and was part of the PBS Wisconsin documentary "Our Birds." Calendar. Its location is prime for bird-watching as it sits smack dab in the middle of the Mississippi Flyway, which serves as a major bird migration route. We provide opportunities for all people to enjoy resident and migratory birds, while being a leading steward of and ambassador for Wisconsin birds. Data is included for the months of peak migration: March, April, May, September, October, November.

Our mission is to promote the enjoyment, study and conservation of Wisconsin’s birds. Baltimore orioles (Icterus galbula) and Bullock's orioles (Icterus bullockii) are migrating birds found throughout North and Central America, with a few in northern South America.