Brrr … it’s cold outside! But for many of our feathered friends, winter in Michigan is just another season. Get to know a few of our small and resourceful winter birds and the clever survival tactics they use to stay warm and find food throughout the winter.
The black-capped chickadee is an expert at staying cozy in cold temperatures – shivering and contracting opposite muscle groups to stay warm, and even lowering its body temperature at night and entering regulated hypothermia to conserve energy. These birds are frequent visitors to backyard bird feeders, carrying sunflower seeds to store in tree bark for later, when food is scarce.
How to ID:
This small and lively bird has a black cap and bib, gray back and buff (yellowish-brown) wash on its sides.
The downy woodpecker uses its small size to its advantage, feeding on weed stalks and drilling into trees to create roosts to keep warm during cold winter nights.
How to ID: This is the smallest woodpecker in North America, between the size of a robin and sparrow. It has a white back, a black-and-white striped face, and a very short, stubby bill. Male “downys” also have a red spot on the nape (back of the neck).
Another familiar sight is the northern cardinal. These brilliant red birds puff out their feathers into a round shape to trap heat, making them look even more striking against a snowy backdrop. Their diet is highly variable, which gives them a greater chance of finding food in the winter. Cardinals begin their courtship this season – look for pairs sweetly feeding seeds and berries to one another.
How to ID: The male cardinal is unmistakable and is our only red bird with a crest. The female isn’t as bright in color, but shares the crest, massive pink-orange bill and long tail of the male.
Want to learn more about these and other winter birds and where to find them? Read the full story brought to you by MI Birds, an outreach and education program presented by the DNR and Audubon Great Lakes. Happy winter birding!
A note about bird health: While the birds mentioned above are not as susceptible to highly pathogenic avian influenza as scavenging wild birds (e.g., eagles, hawks and owls), do keep an eye out for any dead birds and report die-offs of six or more birds through the DNR’s Eyes in the Field app. HPAI is a highly contagious respiratory virus suspected in recent waterfowl die-offs in Lower Michigan. Learn more at the DNR’s HPAI webpage.
