Meet the Birds of the Snowy World! Prime Birdwatching in Eastern Hokkaido This Winter

Having a rental car is convenient, but if you're not accustomed to driving on icy roads, it's best to use public transportation options like the Higashi Hokkaido Express Bus or JR trains. Note that service can run infrequently, meaning you’ll want to allow extra time in your itinerary.
If you plan to visit multiple birdwatching spots, joining a guided tour is a great option for a smoother and more enjoyable experience.

Many migratory birds that spend the winter in Eastern Hokkaido breed in the Russian Far East and travel south along the Sea of Okhotsk coast after passing through Wakkanai, the northernmost point of Hokkaido. Others take a different route, migrating south from the Kamchatka Peninsula along the Kuril Islands before dispersing across their wintering grounds.
One of the most impressive birds of prey seen in Japan, the Steller’s sea eagle, begins appearing in large numbers around November in Koshimizu Town, located near the eastern edge of the Sea of Okhotsk. These powerful birds are often found perched in trees along rivers, where they gather to feed on the remains of salmon that have swum upstream to spawn in the fall. As mid-winter sets in and the rivers freeze over, some eagles move to lakes where ice fishing is common, hoping to snatch leftover fish from human fishermen.

In the wetland grasslands scattered across Eastern Hokkaido, including riverbanks and lakeshores, you can spot rare birds of prey like the short-eared owl, rough-legged buzzard, and hen harrier. During early winter, short-eared owls appear in the coastal grasslands along the Sea of Okhotsk, particularly in areas like the Koshimizu　wild Flower Garden. However, as snowfall increases from January onward, they migrate to the Pacific side, where snow is less abundant. The number of short-eared owls that arrive varies greatly each year, and in some years, they may hardly be seen at all.

Winter brings the opportunity to encounter charming small birds such as the common redpoll and snow bunting—species that make winter birdwatching even more exciting. During early and late winter, these birds tend to form larger flocks, making them easier to spot compared to mid-winter when they are more dispersed.
However, the number of these migratory birds varies greatly from year to year. In particular, sightings of large flocks of common redpolls, recognizable by their small red crowns, only occur once every few years. Even in a peak migration year, these birds are constantly on the move, searching for their favorite food sources like mugwort and evening primrose seeds, making them tricky to track down.

As the breeding season approaches in spring, male ducks enter their peak courtship phase from mid to late winter. This season brings out their most striking and elegant winter plumage, making them a fascinating sight for birdwatchers.
Some species can only be seen in winter, particularly in northern regions like Hokkaido. To catch a glimpse of these rare winter visitors, be sure to visit coastal areas and harbors, which serve as key observation spots during this time of year.

As daytime temperatures begin to rise above freezing and the ice on lakes and marshes starts to thaw, bird activity increases dramatically.
This is also the time when migratory birds that spent the winter in Honshu return to Eastern Hokkaido, a key stopover on their journey north to breeding grounds in Russia and beyond. Their return signals that spring is just around the corner.