Posted on 01/27/2024 6:41:42 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
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Good morning!
23 Birds Of Winter
How Many Can You Spot Where You Live?
No one likes the frigid, blinding blizzards of winter, but unlike humans, birds can easily escape them by spreading their wings until they’re out of the country. However, some species prefer staying in the miserable cold weather rather than flying to a warmer climate for some strange reason. Which birds of winter on this list can you spot?
Birds of winter don’t migrate during the icy season. Instead, they take shelter in evergreen trees to keep warm. They also visit birdbaths more frequently because most water elsewhere freezes at this time of year. Ultimately, many survive till spring.
If you’ve ever wondered which birds stick around during the cold winter, continue reading this article. I will discuss 23 North American birds of winter that migrate to or remain in the US.
https://www.weknowbirds.com/birds-of-winter.html
Snow Bunting
Evening Grosbeak
Redpolls
Brown-Capped Rosy-Finch
Northern Goshawk
Lapland Longspur
American Robin
Mourning Dove
Northern Mockingbird
Two-Barred Crossbill
Snowy Owl
Mountain Chickadee
House Sparrow
Pine Siskin
Tufted Titmouse
Dark-Eyed Junco
White-Breasted Nuthatch
Eastern Bluebird
Red-Winged Blackbird
Varied Thrush
Northern Flicker
Common Grackle
We had a barred owl sitting on our fence post last week when the weather was particularly windy.
Spring is coming because I’ve seen turkeys wandering around the area.
DIY Homemade Bird Food Recipes
Suet
A simple suet recipe that is beloved by woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, and many other backyard birds.
Jack Dudley’s Woodpecker Pudding
A suet–peanut butter concoction that will drive all the wild birds, well, wild!
Fine-Feathered Entree
Packed with nuts and seeds, this mix is a feathered-friend favorite.
Junco Cornbread
This simple baked cornbread is quite literally for the birds—and boy, do they enjoy it!
Homemade Hummingbird Food
Come spring, don’t forget the hummers! This simple recipe for hummingbird nectar consists of only sugar and water.
https://www.almanac.com/homemade-bird-food-recipes
We have seen most of these on your list here in Michigan. Years ago I looked for e lifetime list diary type book, nothing on the internet, but with printed color photos so I could easily enter any new sightings. Just something where I could check them off and enter a date. I guess it’s too old school. I wish spring was coming.
Our Robins go away...but we have Stellar Jays (pigs at the feeders), Thrushes, and Towhees.
Not getting many birds this year- last year was a banner year (although not as good as decades ago when we had all manner of different birds- now its only a few species)
Anyone else notice this this winter? We thought maybe the seed we bought was rancid or something. Last year we would fill the feeder, and by evening would have to fill it again. This year we go for several days between filling.
We used to,have a good deal,of those on that list- gross beaks especially- but no more. Now it’s mostly capped finches,
snow bunting,
mourning doves every now and again,
chickadees,
titmouse,
nutha5ch
and bluejays-
bluebirds in the summer only as we have birdhouses for them.
We did that too- had books on birds and would mark the pages of the ones we would spot, the date etc. My grandfather was big on keeping records like that. Wish we still had the notes.
For awhile there, I was seeing loads and loads of turkeys- not so much anymore, but then again I don’t get put and about as much as I did anymore-
Those rascals build their nests with my straw mulch. Fortunately they don’t need a lot. 🤣
In the winter, we get Juncos, and lots more different sparrows. Lately I’ve seen Tree Sparrows, Song Sparrows, and White Throated Sparrows hanging around the feeders. It’s been nice to see them again.
Wondering what part of the country you’re located.
It could be that something was off about your seed. When mine gets like that, I leave it out in the woods for the raccoons and other critters that will eat most anything. I put it pretty far from my house.
I’ve never seen a Snow Bunting except in pictures.
We have bluebirds year round. I love seeing them. They are so colorful and sweet to each other.
North east. Up near Canadian border almost
I kinda think there is something off with it- birds are eating it, especially the tapeworm infested gobble gut bluejays- but it’s just not drawing in other species much. I guess we could buy a small bag of food and fill the feeder with it before purchasing a large bag, to see if it is the seed.
Yeah we really enjoy the bluebirds in the summer- we can get pretty close to their homes- we have a swing pretty close to it- this year I’m gonna try to get photos of the young sticking their heads out the “door” when the parent shows up with food. We lost the town fella that sprayed for mosquitos, and the last few years have been horrendous when doing a ything outside though. Hopefully they find someone else to take over the job so we can enjoy more than 3 minutes outside again.
I’ve gotten photos of the babies with their parents feeding them. Very cute!
I’ve also gotten shots of them fledging, but I will tell you I was thoroughly dive-bombed the last couple of times I’ve tried. I don’t want to scare them just so I can get a neat shot, so I’ve stopped doing that. I want them to happily procreate and feel safe in my yard.
I have a massive 500mm lense (i did protogrsphy for awhile, adn bought a great zoom lense) so I can sit back and still get closeup shots- the swing is far enough away that they don’t dive bomb us- they feel co fortsble going in and out of the house- we garden right by their homes, so they get pretty used to seeing. Us there. If we get too close, they stay perched nearby until we move to other section of garden. Haven’t had them dive bomb us yet thankfully
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