Winter Birding Challenge Tasks
In order to complete the Winter Birding Challenge, participants must earn 200 points by completing the challenges listed below.
Using eBird
1 – Share your eBird username
2 – Upload a photo and a recording
3 – Participate in an eBird Tutorial
4 – Maintain an eBird Checklist Streak
Get Outside and Explore!
5 – Upload a digiscope photo
6 – Submit an eBird checklist from your backyard or neighborhood
7 – Participate in a group birding tour
8 – Submit an eBird checklist from vacation
9 – Submit an eBird checklist with a 2 mile track
10 – Submit an eBird checklist with multiple Red-breasted Nuthatches
11 – Submit a Checklist from Beaver Meadow Nature Preserve
12 – Find Tom birdwatching (not leading a birding tour)
13 – Find 25 Species on January 1st
14 – Explore the Niagara River
Community Science
15 – Participate in the Christmas Bird Count
16 – Participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count
17 – Participate in a Spark Bird program at Trillium Nature Center+
Helping Birds and Inspiring Birders
18 – Bring a friend birding
19 – Set up a suet feeder
20 – Clean up litter while you are birding
21 – Share the Winter Birding Challenge on social media
22 – Participate in the Bird Friendly Buffalo workshop.
23 – Donate to the Trillium Nature Center Camp Scholarship
Finding Specific Birds
24 – Find an American Tree Sparrow
25 – Find a Golden-crowned Kinglet
26 – Find an Eastern Bluebird
27 – Find a Lesser Scaup
28 – Find a Red-throated Loon
29 – Find a Red-necked Grebe
30 – Find an Owl Pellet
31 – Find a Northern Shrike
32 – Find as Eastern Phoebe
Finding Groups of Birds
33 – Finding Winter Field Birds
34 – Finding Winter Finches
35 – Finding Winter Raptors
Duck Diversity
36 – Find 10 Species of Ducks in One Day
37 – Find 20 Species of Ducks between
January 1st and March 21st
Gull Diversity
38 – Find 7 Species of Gulls in One Day
39 – Find 10 Species of Gulls between
January 1st and March 21st
Season Long Counts
40 – Find 25 Species between January 1st and March 21st
41 – Find 50 Species between January 1st and March 21st
42 – Find 75 Species between January 1st and March 21st
43 – Find 100 Species between January 1st and March 21st
PLUS Weekly Quizzes to earn bonus points!
New for 2026 – “Expert Mode”
Many of these challenges can be completed during the same birdwatching outing. Challenge yourself by only submitting a checklist once for a challenge instead of using it to complete multiple challenges. Participants who complete the challenge on Expert Mode will earn 25 Bonus Points!

