Sangamon County Bird Report February 2026

[Dyer, Beckie]

Click on photos to see complete view

Birds in Sangamon County in February 2026

Pied-billed Grebe –after all grebes being frozen out in January, and last seen Dec 6, 2025, one occurred (spring arrival) at LSpfld (Feb 25) - % the longest absence since the study began in 1970!

Horned Grebe – spring arrival one in basic plumage at LSpfld (Feb 23), w/ HC = 2 (Feb 28) – seen on 3 days.

White Pelican – some were seen in Jan, but there was a hiatus and they reoccurred with 6 at LSpfld (Feb 8), with increasing #, and w/ HC = 103 (Feb 27)- seen on 12 days.

Double-crested Cormorant –last straggler seen Jan 18, but spring arrival 4 adults at LSpfld Dam (Feb 20), w/ HC = 52 (Feb 28) - seen on 6 days.

Great Blue Heron – wintered in lower #, w/ HC = 25 (Feb 9), seen on 27 days. Some flying to nesting colony in Feb = lower # at LSpfld.

Tundra Swan – some in late Jan = spring arrival?, but 4 adults at LSpfld (Feb 8) and 2 ad & 2 im ( Feb13 &14)- with HC = 5 ad (Feb 24), seen on 4 days.

Trumpeter Swan – spring arrival  6 ad at LSpfld (Feb 16) calling.

Mute Swan - present.  4 adults at Mall Ponds (Feb 7) – seen on 3 days.

Greater White-fronted Goose – wintered, but many moving around w/yo-yo weather, w/ HC = 1290 (Feb 16). Seen on 17 days.

Snow Goose – wintered w/sporadic #, w/HC = 2300 (Feb 25). Seen on 15 days in lower numbers this year. Should spring hunting of these noble geese be stopped?

Ross’s Goose – % wintered, but most flocks of Snow Geese were distant or flying and token Ross’s were seen on 5 days (Feb 13 - 27) w/ HC = 12 (Feb 18). Almost surely more present but distance and hybrid possibilities prevented identification.

Canada Goose – HC = 1040 (Feb 2), and # reduced after (Feb 15) indicating mostly stragglers & SR - seen every day. I think the # of Canada Geese peak before the other geese, and people are harassing these birds on LSpfld more than ever – since they think the geese are noisy, but the people and their machines win that easily.

Cackling Goose – seen only 2 days - 2 (Feb 16) & 4 (Feb 19) at LSpfld – are # dropping?

Wood Duck – spring arrival ♂ at Marine Pt (Feb 17), w/HC = 3 (Feb 25) + one (Feb 28).

Green-winged Teal –spring arrival 29 at LSpfld & Sangchris (Feb 10) w/ HC = 39 (Feb 25) – seen on 10 days.

Am. Black Duck –wintered in small numbers, w/ HC = 10 (Feb 12) at LSpfld & Sangchris, seen on 14 days. Plus one ♀ Black X Mallard also (Feb 12).

Mallard – wintered, HC = 420 (Feb 16), seen every day. Numbers began to drop (Feb 18).

N. Pintail – some WR due to influxes & exposed mudflats at Sangchris. w/ HC = 79 (Feb 4), seen on 15 days.

N. Shoveler –my records show a short hiatus of 8 days in Feb, with 5 (Feb 9) as spring arrival. Some could have survived all winter at open sewer ponds ??  w/ HC = 85 (Feb 25) - seen on 16 days.

Gadwall - a few all winter, w/ HC= 34 (Feb 16) - seen on 13 days. Numbers peaked earlier in Jan?

Am.Wigeon – a few wintered, especially at WP & Sangchris, w/ spring arrivals starting with 5 (Feb 12) &   w/ HC = only 7  (Feb 16) - low # on 14 days.

Canvasback – some wintered, w/ spring increase 50 (Feb 10) & w/HC = 125 (Feb 14) & 134 (Feb 25), seen on 22 days.

Redhead – spring arrival 23 (Feb 10), w/HC = 26 (Feb 27) seen on 18 days.

Ring-neck Duck – a few wintered, but spring arrival 17 at Mall Pond ( Feb 7), w/ HC = 260 (Feb 25) - seen on 22 days.

Greater Scaup – wintered in low #, w/HC = 3 (Feb 26), seen on 3 days- % some  others but too far out to ID.

Lesser Scaup – wintered, but spring increase was 22 (Feb 8), w/ HC = 283 (Feb 25) - seen every day.

Common Goldeneye – wintered, seen 28 days in foraging flocks, w/HC = 407(Feb 9). Numbers did not come back to what they were before LSpfld froze in late January.

Barrow’s Goldeneye – One adult ♂ at the curve at LSpfld (Feb 28) -photos. It was with Common Goldeneyes and was diving for food. It had all the field marks including the long mane and golden eye. See photos! This is the 2nd County record of an adult drake.

Bufflehead – spring migrants 2♂at LSpfld (Feb 14), w/ HC = 8 (Feb 28), seen on 11 days in low #,

Hooded Merganser – wintered in lower # after freeze up, seen on 28 days, HC = 49 (Feb 6).

Common Merganser – wintered – seen 25 days, HC = 385 (Feb 11), this species # closely associated w/ice on lake and present until 6 (Feb 27). Numbers were very low after (Feb 18) at LSpfld .

Red-breasted Merganser – spring arrival ♂ (Feb 6), w/ HC= 25 ♂ (Feb 25) seen on 17 days.

Ruddy Duck – wintered, but were mostly chased off LSpfld with ice conditions in January. Low # prevailed in early Feb. They slowly came back, w/ HC = 123 (Feb 25) & 135 (Feb 28) –but # were much lower. Seen on 21 days.

Turkey Vulture – some all winter, with movement of remaining birds to roost southeast of LSpfld or even further!  HC = 47 (Feb 16) at Hunter Lake area may have been some spring arrivals – seen on 16 days.

Bald Eagle – wintered, w/ HC = 19 (9 adults & 10 im) on (Feb 4). Age ratio = 47 adults : 49 im (% many repeats). Adult on nest at Ramsey Rd (Feb 4) & at Cinder Flats (Feb 5) Most seen at LSpfld (especially on the ice) and Sangchris and a few in other areas of the county. Eagles seen 23 days in Feb.

N. Harrier – seen only one ♀ west of Spfld (Feb 17).

Sharp-shinned Hawk – 4 singles, but more than usual for winter. Noted on (Feb 3,6,22, & 27)- all in im plumage and some associated with bird feeders.

Cooper’s Hawk – wintered, 5 singles 2 ad (Feb 2 & 26) & 3im  (Feb 12, 14 & 18).

Red-shouldered Hawk – HC = 3 ad (Feb 4 & 16). Numbers increasing in this species, seen on 11 days, w/14 adults & 4 imm.

Red-tailed Hawk – HC = 5 on (Feb 13) - seen on 19 days.

      Rough-legged Hawk – none found.

Am. Kestrel – HC = 5 (Feb 15) – seen on 16 days.

Merlin – seen at UIS (Feb 6,8,12, 20,24, 25, & 28 -2 birds) - photos. The last 2 were in the same area (along athletic field - one seemed slightly larger – both photo). Also one at Refuge at south end of LSpfld (Feb 5) -photo and one flew by LSpfld Dam (Feb 10). Seen on nine days.

Ring –neck Pheasant –HC = 15 (Feb 3) near Nipper Prairie, and a single at south end LSpfld (Feb 27).

    Turkey – none.

    N. Bobwhite - none

Am. Coot – some wintered, w/ 6 at Sangchris (Feb 2), but spring arrival was 16 at LSpfld (Feb 25) -also HC - seen on 6 days.

Killdeer – one spring arrival at south end LSpfld (Feb 13), w/ HC = 12 (Feb 27) - seen on 10 days.

Bonaparte’s Gull - spring arrival? 4 at Marine Pt (Feb 19) – but none after that- stray gulls!

Ring-billed Gull –wintered, but had to build # back after almost total freeze of LSpfld in late January. The first 6 days of Feb had # in single digits, but the monthly HC = 12,000 (Feb 20). This gull was seen every day – many far out on LSpfld in the evening in bad viewing conditions were not counted. Several known birds were seen to return after the freeze.

Herring Gull – wintered w/fluctuating numbers mostly due to ice conditions w/ HC = 138 (Feb 9), seen 27 days.

Kumlien’s Gull – one darker adult at LSpfld (Feb 8)- photo  

California Gull – one 2 -3 year at LSpfld Marine Pt (Feb 12) – photos. Note also bluish green tarsi, larger size than RB Gulls, black  near tip of bill & dark eye.

Great Black -backed Gull – one im at LSpfld (Feb 22) – Photo.  

Lesser Black-back Gull – wintered, w/ HC = 3 (adult, 3rd yr & 2nd yr) on (Feb 9). These gulls seen on 11 days w/ total birds = 16– some photos. Last seen adult & first year bird (Feb 28).

Rock Dove – present.

Eurasian Collared –Dove – only one at Berry (Feb 4)- these doves apparently migrate. 

Mourning Dove – HC = 13 (Feb 15) – seen on 28 days. Some migrants returning in mid- Feb.

Great Horned Owl – one west of Spfld (Feb 16).

Barred Owl – 2 off the east end of LSpfld (Feb 18) & one DOR along east Lake Dr. (Feb 22) % due to very fast drivers there (unsupervised by police). 

Belted Kingfisher –only 2 at LSpfld (Feb 4 & 28) as the lake was frozen most of the month.

Red-headed Woodpecker – HC = 5 (Feb 13) – seen 24 days. Survived because I feed them, but some migrated % because of cold and little natural foods. Numbers were low between Feb 15 – 24.

Red-bellied Woodpecker – HC = 10 (Feb 23) – seen every day.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – only one at Sangchris (Feb 25).

Downy Woodpecker – HC = 8 (Feb 1,6 & 22), seen every day.

Hairy Woodpecker – HC = ♀♂ at Hazel Dell (Feb 6), seen on 3 days. Dropping out in some areas.

N. Flicker – HC = 4 (Feb 15), seen on 16 days. No flocks feeding on ants were noted.

Pileated Woodpecker – 5 singles (Feb 5- 26) – mostly seen at LSpfld & Sangchris.

Horned Lark – HC = 18 (Feb 3), seen on 10 days (most # when snow on ground).

Blue Jay – HC = 25 (Feb 2), seen every day. Last half of Feb lower # as this species paired.

Am Crow – HC = 78 (Feb 7) seen every day. Some flocks may have split into family groups by the end of Feburary.

Black-capped Chickadee – HC = 11 (Feb 13) – seen on 27 days.

Tufted Tit mouse – HC = 12 (Feb 19) – seen every day. One odd bird at Watt’s feeder had a dark breast and more vivid orange- it was present all winter -photo.

Red-breasted Nuthatch – 2 singles (Feb 6 & 22) -small invasion this winter.

White-breasted Nuthatch – HC = 9 (Feb 13) – seen every day.

Brown Creeper – HC = 2 (Feb 19) – also one seen (Feb 18) -continues low #.

Carolina Wren -HC = 5 (Feb12 & 19)-low # recorded 19 days. Most seemed to survive the cold- especially those which took refuge in a building.

       Winter wren – none

Golden -cr. Kinglet – HC = 2 at North Pt and other areas(Feb 6 – 14) seen on 19 days.

Eastern Bluebird – some wintered w/ HC = 8 Feb 16) – seen on 11 days.

Hermit Thrush – one wintered NW of Spfld seen (Feb 15).

American Robin – some numbers wintered, w/ HC =65 (Feb 26) – seen on 28 days. Numbers increased on (Feb 20).

Mockingbird – one in Hunter Lake area on (Feb 25) – it flew into a yard. There are very few of these birds % due to Cooper’s Hawks.

Cedar Waxwing – a flock of 14 was feeding w/ Robins on small berry trees at Lincolnland (Feb 14).

European Starling – present.

N. Cardinal – HC = 30 (Feb 6), seen every day. Two leucistic ♀♀ seen at feeder this winter.

Am. Tree Sparrow – HC = 51 (Feb 2), scattered flocks w/ usually low # seen on 14 days.

     Field Sparrow – none.

Fox Sparrow – 2 at Sangchris (Feb 2) were feeding w/ a # of other sparrows in an open area and were % WR.

Song Sparrow – a few wintered, but none or very low # in most areas, HC = 4 (Feb 2). Seen on 8 days – much lower # than in the past.

     Swamp Sparrow – none – this was a very dry Feb!

White-throated Sparrow – HC = 21 (Feb 1) – very low #, seen on 27 days.

White-crowned Sparrow – HC = 21 most at Centennial Park on (Feb 17) + 11  at  Cinder Flats (Feb 22) + other singles were WR seen on 7 days – more than usual.

Dark-eyed Junco - HC = 73 (Feb 1) – some counts were low # but seen every day. Two J.h.  oreganus west of Spfld (Feb 1) & another at Hazel Dell feeder (Feb 1).

Lapland Longspur – HC = 80 east of Spfld (Feb 4) – also 49 at Tebbe Rd (Feb 7) & 24 there (Feb 3) all seen because of snow on ground. Plus one DOR east of Rochester (Feb 10).

Red-winged Blackbird – a few in winter, with some ♂ on territory by mid-Feb. and spring arrival 193  (Feb 17) and HC = 4204 (Feb 18) – at Roost at Cinder Flats. Seen on 18 days.                

E. Meadowlark - 3 spring migrants  near Sangchris (Feb18) - seen on 5 days in very low #.

Rusty Blackbird – spring arrival 3 at Roost (Feb 18) + one (Feb 22).

Common Grackle – some WR, w/% spring arrival 47in mixed flock west of Spfld (Feb 17) & also HC. Of 2000 at Roost (Feb 18). Seen on 10 days.

Brown-headed Cowbird – very few WR, w/ HC & spring arrivals = 500 at Roost (Feb 18) - seen on 6 days. 

House Finch – HC = 30 (Feb 12), seen on 22 days.

Common Redpoll – a ♂ at Watt’s feeder (Feb 1 & 5) – photos.

Am. Goldfinch – HC = 7 (Feb 22), only seen on 9 days – poor #.

House Sparrow – present.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow – HC = 80 at south end LSpfld (Feb 5) – seen on 5 days

 The cold spell from the end of January continued into February 2026 and lasted through February 8. The lowest temperature of the month was -3 on February 1. A warm period began on the 9th and stayed warm to mild through the 20 th  climbing to 68◦ on February 18. This period had the highest nighttime high of 44◦ February 17. Then followed three days of colder temperatures, and the last 5 days (Feb 24-28) were warm. The highest temperature of the month was 74⁰ February 27. The night temperatures were above freezing on 6 nights.  February 2026 was one of the driest on record with the total precipitation of 0.45 inches of rain and snow, with the highest total of 0.44 inches on Feb 14. Lake Springfield was frozen at least until February 16, but had patches of open water near the dam and at Island Bay Yacht Club the whole month.

 

Total field days = 28

Total hours = 209

Total species for February 2026 = 99

 

H. David Bohlen

Illinois State Museum (IDNR)

hdavid...@illinois.gov

 

 

 

 

 

Beckie Dyer
Museum Technician
Illinois State Museum
1011 East Ash Street
Springfield, Illinois 62703-3500
Phone: 217-782-7475/ 217-785-0037
Fax:   217-785-2857
http://illinoisstatemuseum.org/

State of Illinois - CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in this communication is confidential, may be attorney-client privileged or attorney work product, may constitute inside information or internal deliberative staff communication, and is intended only for the use of the addressee. Unauthorized use, disclosure or copying of this communication or any part thereof is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail and destroy this communication and all copies thereof, including all attachments. Receipt by an unintended recipient does not waive attorney-client privilege, attorney work product privilege, or any other exemption from disclosure.