Minnesota Seasons

Hibernal Season

The hibernal ecological season corresponds to the winter calendar season. In our area it is characterized by cold temperatures, a usually snow-covered landscape, and an absence of migratory bird species. Deciduous trees are bare and fallen leaves begin to decay. Migrating birds have settled in winter habitats. In Minnesota the hibernal season usually begins about December 1 and lasts until about March 1.

Snow Cover
The average date for the first one-inch snow fall in the Twin Cities is November 18. The average date for “permanent snow cover” in the Twin Cities is unknown but is probably mid-December. Permanent snow cover here is defined as at least one centimeter of snow cover that lasts at least one month.

Temperature
On average, cold temperatures arrive in the Twin Cities on December 3. On that date the average high temperature is below freezing.


Destinations

These are locations in Minnesota where native plants, birds, and other wildlife can be viewed. With very few exceptions, these destinations are open to the public. Visitors can share their own photos, videos, plant and wildlife sightings, and other observations.


Species

Plants

Native, naturalized, invasive, or simply planted—any plant growing outside of cultivation in Minnesota. More than 800 plant pages include photos, a description, a multi-sourced distribution map, and a list of sites where the plant has been found.
				Photo by Luciearl

Insects and Arachnids

Insects and arachnids found in Minnesota. Species pages include photos, a description, a list of sightings by MinnesotaSeasons.com, visitor sightings, and distribution maps.
				Photo by Norm & Peg Dibble

Wildlife

Birds and bears, snakes and squirrels, toads and turtles—wildlife found in Minnesota. Wildlife pages include photos, a description, and a list of sightings, as well as distribution maps for amphibians, mammals, and reptiles.
				Photo by Luciearl

Fungi and Lichens

Mushrooms, lichens, and other fungi found in Minnesota. Fungi and lichen pages include photos, a description, a list of sightings by MinnesotaSeasons.com, visitor sightings, and distribution maps.

Wallpapers

Download free high resolution wallpapers (screen backgrounds). These are photos of destinations featured on MinnesotaSeasons.com. The wallpapers are grouped by ecological season. Each wallpaper is optimized for the screen resolutions used most often on desktops, laptops, and tablets.

472
Destinations

2,100
Species*

* Species pages may represent a species, subspecies, variety, genus, family, or other taxonmomic group, or an unidentified organism. Using the word “taxa” here would be more accurate but less widely understood.

What’s New

Recent Uploads


	February

Mitch Nielsen uploaded 2 photos of Red-bellied Woodpecker 2/23/2021.

Gerry G uploaded 2 photos of star-nosed mole 2/23/2021.

DBarnes uploaded 2 photos of Barred Owl 2/18/2021.

James Folden uploaded 2 photos of Black-crowned Night Heron 2/18/2021.

Dan W. Andree uploaded 2 photos of regal fritillary 7/23/2020.

Dan W. Andree uploaded 2 photos of great spangled fritillary 2/11/2021.

Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of western poison ivy 7/26/2020.

Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of Western Meadowlark 5/11/2020.

Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of bloodroot 5/11/2020.

Martin Schrattenholzer uploaded 1 photo of Pear-shaped Puffball 2/7/2021.

Martin Schrattenholzer uploaded 2 photos of narrow-leaved meadowsweet 2/7/2021.

Martin Schrattenholzer uploaded 4 photos of northern white cedar 2/7/2021.

Bill Reynolds uploaded 2 photos of House Sparrow 2/4/2021.

Bill Reynolds uploaded 3 photos of Least Flycatcher 2/4/2021.

Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 video of regal fritillary 2/1/2021.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 2 photos of European crane fly 10/12/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 4 photos of bee-like robber fly (Laphria canis complex) 10/12/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of spotted-wing drosophila 10/12/2019.


	January

Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 video of Black-billed Cuckoo 1/31/2021.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of fruit fly (Trupanea actinobola) 10/12/2019.

Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of regal fritillary 1/28/2021.

Dan W. Andree uploaded 2 photos of black swallowtail 1/28/2021.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 3 photos of gnat ogre (Holcocephala abdominalis) 10/12/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of Mexican grass-carrying wasp 10/30/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 2 photos of black and yellow argiope 10/30/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of western honey bee 10/30/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of spotted lady beetle 10/30/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of signal fly (Rivellia colei) 10/30/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of shaved horse fly 10/30/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of red-legged grasshopper 10/30/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 3 photos of northern corn rootworm beetle 10/30/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 2 photos of leaf-cutter bee (Megachile spp.) 10/30/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 3 photos of green stink bug 10/30/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of bald-faced hornet 10/30/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of American toad 10/30/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 2 photos of banded longhorn beetle 10/30/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 2 photos of meadowhawk (Sympetrum spp.) 10/30/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 3 photos of northern paper wasp 10/27/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 6 photos of four-banded stink bug hunter wasp 10/27/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of longlegged fly (Dolichopus spp.) 10/12/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 5 photos of common aerial yellowjacket 10/27/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 5 photos of eastern yellowjacket 10/27/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of orange-banded arion 10/22/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 2 photos of gray field slug 10/22/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of longlegged fly (Condylostylus sipho) 10/12/2019.

Sandi Braun-Ziemer uploaded 1 photo of Pileated Woodpecker 1/17/2021.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 3 photos of aphideater (Eupeodes subg. Metasyrphus) 10/12/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 3 photos of slender smoothtail 10/12/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of thick-legged hoverfly 10/12/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of hoverfly (Platycheirus spp.) 10/12/2019.

Dan W. Andree uploaded 2 photos of Brown Creeper 1/11/2021.

Dan W. Andree uploaded 2 photos of plains cottonwood 1/7/2021.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 2 photos of eastern band-winged hover fly 10/12/2019.

Avi Birds uploaded 1 video of Black-crowned Night Heron 1/7/2021.

Avi Birds uploaded 1 video of Common Raven 1/7/2021.

Avi Birds uploaded 1 video of Great Egret 1/7/2021.

Avi Birds uploaded 1 video of House Sparrow 1/7/2021.

Avi Birds uploaded 1 video of Mallard 1/7/2021.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of orange-legged drone fly 10/12/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of yellow-shouldered drone fly 10/12/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 3 photos of black-shouldered drone fly 10/12/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of root maggot fly (Hydrophoria lancifer) 10/12/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 3 photos of soldier fly (Stratiomys norma) 10/12/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of bee fly (Villa lateralis) 10/12/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of swift feather-legged fly 10/12/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of blue-green bottle fly 10/12/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of tachinid fly (Thelaira americana) 10/12/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of tachinid fly (Xanthomelanodes arcuatus) 10/12/2019.

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of quadrate snipe fly 10/12/2019.

New Pages


	February

2/26/2021

leafhopper (Latalus ocellaris) renamed to leafhopper (Errastunus ocellaris)

2/25/2021

digger bee (Anthophora terminalis) name changed to orange-tipped wood-digger bee

2/20/2021

hoverfly (Syrphus torvus) name changed to hairy-eyed flower fly

2/15/2021

spring fishfly

2/14/2021

Minnesota Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies

2/10/2021

common mallow

2/6/2021

crane fly (Limonia annulata) name changed to limoniid crane fly (Limonia annulata)

2/6/2021

hairy flower scarab (Trichiotinus assimilis) name changed to bee-mimic beetle

2/4/2021

European crane fly

2/2/2021

bristle fly (Leskia similis) name changed to tachinid fly (Leskia similis)

2/2/2021

bee-like robber fly (Laphria canis complex)

2/1/2021

spotted-wing drosophila


	January

1/31/2021

small dung fly (Sphaeroceridae) name changed to lesser dung fly (Family Sphaeroceridae)

1/31/2021

fruit fly (Trupanea actinobola)

1/29/2021

gnat ogre (Holcocephala abdominalis)

1/26/2021

grass-carrying wasp (mexicana) name changed to Mexican grass-carrying wasp

1/22/2021

longlegged fly (Dolichopus spp.)

1/19/2021

longlegged fly (Condylostylus sipho)

1/17/2021

aphideater (Eupeodes subg. Metasyrphus)

1/16/2021

slender smoothtail

1/14/2021

thick-legged hoverfly

1/13/2021

hoverfly (Platycheirus spp.)

1/12/2021

parajulid millipede (Tribe Aniulini)

1/10/2021

eastern band-winged hover fly

1/9/2021

Black-crowned Night Heron

1/8/2021

orange-legged drone fly

1/7/2021

yellow-shouldered drone fly

1/6/2021

black-shouldered drone fly

1/4/2021

blue-green bottle fly

1/3/2021

tachinid fly (Thelaira americana)

1/2/2021

tachinid fly (Xanthomelanodes arcuatus)

1/1/2021

quadrate snipe fly


Next Up

1	large crane fly (Tipula borealis)	Alfredo Colon
2	Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)	James Folden
3	eastern harvestman (Leiobunum vittatum)	Alfredo Colon
4	dogwood sawfly (Macremphytus testaceus)	Alfredo Colon
5	sand wasp (Gorytes spp.)	Alfredo Colon
6	ichneumon wasp (Charops annulipes)	Alfredo Colon
7	ichneumon wasp (Vulgichneumon brevicinctor)	Alfredo Colon
8	minute seed weevil (Homorosoma sulcipenne)	Alfredo Colon
9	longhorned beetle (Neoclytus mucronatus)	Alfredo Colon
10	silver flower longhorn beetle (Grammoptera subargentata)	Alfredo Colon
11	American green crab spider (Misumessus oblongus)	Alfredo Colon
12	hammock spider (Pityohyphantes costatus)	Alfredo Colon
13	boreal combfoot (Steatoda borealis)	Alfredo Colon
14	crabonid wasp (Astata unicolor)	Alfredo Colon
15
16
17
18
19	broad-headed marsh fly (Helophilus latifrons)	John Valo
20	lupine bug (Megalotomus quinquespinosus)	John Valo
21	shield-backed bug (Homaemus aeneifrons)	John Valo