Spring migration gets the headlines, but some of the most impressive birds in Hocking Hills are here all year long. The region's vast stretches of mature forest, sandstone cliffs, and open water support a strong cast of resident species that don't migrate—they tough out Ohio winters and reward visitors in every season.
Winter birding has its own advantages. With the leaves down, birds are far easier to spot against bare branches, and the lack of foliage makes identifying species by shape and movement much simpler. A quiet January walk through the gorges can produce sightings that would be invisible in June's dense canopy.
Woodpeckers
Hocking Hills' mature forests and abundant standing dead wood make it prime woodpecker habitat. Seven woodpecker species are found in Ohio, and several are common in the Hocking Hills area year-round.
The star of the show. At 16 to 19 inches long, the pileated is the largest woodpecker in North America (now that the ivory-billed woodpecker is almost certainly extinct). Its flaming red crest, black body, and white underwing patches make it unmistakable in flight. You'll often hear it before you see it—its loud, resonant drumming carries through the forest, and its wild, laughing call is unforgettable.
Look for their signature rectangular excavation holes in dead trees and logs, carved out in their search for carpenter ants. These holes can be surprisingly large, sometimes a foot long. Pileated woodpeckers need large home territories in mature forest, which is exactly what the thousands of acres of Hocking State Forest and surrounding parks provide.
Where: Throughout the region's mature forests. Especially reliable along the Grandma Gatewood Trail between Old Man's Cave and Cedar Falls, and in the forests of Clear Creek Metro Park.
Don't be fooled by the name—the red belly is almost invisible in the field. Instead, look for the vivid red nape and crown (extending to the forehead in males) contrasting with a zebra-striped black-and-white back. Red-bellied woodpeckers are common and vocal throughout the Hocking Hills, delivering a loud, rolling kwirr call that's one of the most frequent sounds in the forest.
Where: Common in all forested areas, from state park trails to cabin lots.
These two lookalikes are both common in Hocking Hills. Both have black-and-white plumage with a white back stripe, and males of both species sport a small red patch on the back of the head. The key difference is size: the downy is sparrow-sized (about 6 inches) while the hairy is robin-sized (about 9 inches). The hairy also has a proportionally longer, heavier bill. Both are year-round residents and are often seen working tree trunks and branches along every trail in the region.
Where: Everywhere. Among the most reliable bird sightings on any Hocking Hills hike.
With its entirely crimson head, bold black-and-white wing pattern, and bright white underparts, the red-headed woodpecker is one of the most visually striking birds in the region. Unlike most woodpeckers, it's an accomplished flycatcher, sallying out from exposed perches to catch insects in midair. It also caches food—wedging acorns and nuts into bark crevices for later retrieval. Look for them in open woodlands and forest edges, particularly around Rockbridge State Nature Preserve.
Where: Open woodland, forest edges, and areas with standing dead trees. Rockbridge State Nature Preserve and forest clearings.
Raptors
Once nearly extirpated from Ohio, bald eagles have made a strong comeback and are now year-round residents at Lake Logan State Park. Adults are unmistakable with their white head and tail contrasting against a dark brown body, but immature birds (which take four to five years to develop full adult plumage) can be confusing—they're mottled brown and white and often mistaken for other large raptors. Watch for bald eagles soaring over the lake, perched in tall lakeside trees, or cruising low over the water hunting fish.
Where: Lake Logan State Park is the most reliable location. Scan tall trees along the shoreline and watch the sky over open water.
The signature raptor of the Hocking Hills forests. Red-shouldered hawks are common year-round residents throughout the region, favoring the mature, moist forests near streams and gorges. Their loud, repeated kee-aah, kee-aah call echoes through the ravines and is one of the most frequently heard raptor calls in the park. In early spring, they become especially vocal as they establish territories and perform dramatic aerial courtship displays.
These medium-sized hawks have richly barred reddish-brown breasts, dark-and-white checkered wings, and banded tails. They hunt from perches in the forest, watching for frogs, snakes, mice, and other small prey.
Where: Throughout the forested gorges. Especially common along the Old Man's Cave to Cedar Falls corridor and in Clear Creek valley.
The deep, resonant who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-you-all call of the barred owl is one of the defining night sounds of Hocking Hills. These large, round-headed owls with dark eyes and streaky brown-and-white plumage are year-round residents of the mature forests. While primarily nocturnal, they're sometimes active during the day, particularly on overcast afternoons, and can occasionally be spotted roosting in dense hemlock groves.
Barred owls begin their breeding season early—listen for their calls starting in February, when pairs engage in loud, almost maniacal duets that echo through the frozen gorges.
Where: Dense forest near water. The hemlock gorges and forests around Old Man's Cave and Cedar Falls. Listen at dusk and after dark.
Turkey vultures are abundant soaring birds throughout the Hocking Hills, riding thermals on their long, upswept wings held in a distinctive shallow V shape. They return early in spring and are present from March through November. Black vultures, their smaller cousins with shorter tails and flat-winged flight, have been expanding their range northward into Ohio and are now regularly seen in the Hocking Hills area, particularly at Clear Creek Metro Park where they're a documented species.
Where: Overhead throughout the region. Watch the skies from any overlook or open ridgeline.
Forest Songbirds
Ohio's state bird is abundant throughout the Hocking Hills and doesn't migrate. The male's brilliant red plumage and pointed crest are iconic, and their loud, whistled song—birdy-birdy-birdy or cheer-cheer-cheer—is one of the first birdsongs many people learn. Cardinals are among the earliest singers each morning, often starting before dawn, and one of the last to fall silent in the evening.
These two small, sociable songbirds are constant companions on Hocking Hills trails. Carolina chickadees are tiny gray-and-white birds with a black cap and throat patch, always on the move, often hanging upside down from small branches to inspect crevices for insects. Tufted titmice are slightly larger, gray with a jaunty pointed crest and peach-washed flanks. Both species are year-round residents and frequently travel together in mixed foraging flocks, often joined by downy woodpeckers, nuthatches, and brown creepers.
Small, round, and rufous-brown with a bold white eyebrow stripe, the Carolina wren produces an astonishingly loud song for its size—a ringing teakettle-teakettle-teakettle that echoes through the gorges. They're year-round residents and remarkably adaptable, nesting in everything from rock crevices to cabin porches. Even on the coldest winter day, you'll likely hear a Carolina wren singing somewhere in the Hocking Hills.
One of the more elusive year-round residents. Ruffed grouse are chicken-sized birds of the forest floor, superbly camouflaged in mottled brown and gray plumage. They're most commonly detected in spring when males perform their spectacular drumming display—standing on a log and beating their wings rapidly to produce a deep, accelerating thumping sound that resonates through the forest. At Clear Creek Metro Park, they occasionally stroll along remote forest roads.
Where: Dense forest floor. Clear Creek Metro Park, Hocking State Forest, and less-traveled trails. Listen for drumming in March and April.
Winter Visitors
While the birds above are present year-round, Hocking Hills also attracts interesting winter visitors from the north. In irruptive years—when food crops fail in the boreal forest—evening grosbeaks, crossbills (both red and white-winged), and pine siskins may appear in the pine plantings and hemlock stands. Dark-eyed juncos are reliable winter residents, foraging on the ground in small flocks. And great horned owls begin nesting as early as January, with their deep hooting audible from the gorges on cold, clear nights.
Year-round birding tip: Winter and early spring are underrated seasons in Hocking Hills. Bare trees mean better visibility, winter flocks concentrate birds into smaller areas, and the trails are far quieter than summer weekends. A January or February walk through the Old Man's Cave gorge can produce a dozen or more species with minimal effort.
For more on the migratory species that arrive in spring, read our spring birding guide and warbler spotter's guide. Planning a trip? Find a cabin at HockingCabins.com.