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An original Country Living report highlights six birds commonly seen in winter backyards: goldfinches, cardinals, woodpeckers, nuthatches, sparrows and hawks. It recommends maintaining suitable high-energy foods, preserving natural food and shelter, and joining the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, which runs December 14 to January 5.
A Country Living report identifies six birds people may spot in backyards during winter and suggests ways to support them, including offering high-energy foods, keeping natural food sources and shelter available, and taking part in a seasonal bird count. The guide also notes that appearance and species vary by season and location, so what visitors see depends partly on where they live.
The six birds in the report are American goldfinches, cardinals, woodpeckers, nuthatches, sparrows and hawks. Goldfinches can be harder to recognize in winter: National Audubon Society community science director Benjamin Haywood says their bright yellow summer feathers become subdued olive-brown. Cardinals remain more recognizable, though males are red and females are rosy brown. Woodpeckers may be heard drilling into wood as they search for insects, while nuthatches are known for moving headfirst down tree trunks.
The report describes sparrows as small, rounded birds with short, pointed bills, often in brown and gray plumage. It says the species seen locally depend on location, and house sparrows are commonly found throughout the United States. Hawks, including red-tailed, sharp-shinned and rough-legged hawks and Cooper’s hawks, are more often seen circling overhead than close to a home.
To support winter visitors, Haywood recommends keeping feeders stocked with suet, black oil sunflower seeds and nyjer, as outlined in this guide to feeding garden birds safely in winter. He also points to berry-producing shrubs and seed-bearing plants as natural food sources, and brush piles and evergreen cover as shelter from wind and predators; planting shrubs can help provide natural food and cover. The report says the Audubon Christmas Bird Count runs from December 14 to January 5 and welcomes beginners as well as experienced birders, much like these ways to help backyard birds.
Food and Cover Through Winter
Cold weather can make food and safe shelter harder for birds to find. Keeping feeders supplied and retaining natural sources such as berries and seeds can offer additional feeding opportunities; evergreen cover and brush piles can provide places to shelter. These suggestions are practical ways to make a yard more accommodating, but the report does not claim they guarantee that particular birds will visit or survive.
Recognizing that birds change appearance can also help observers identify what they see. Haywood says goldfinches’ winter plumage is less bright than their summer feathers. For people interested in more than backyard sightings, the Christmas Bird Count offers a way to contribute observations to a long-running community science effort.
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Seasonal Birds and the Annual Count
The report’s list is a guide to common winter sightings, not a checklist that applies equally to every yard. The types of sparrows people encounter vary by location, and hawks may be visible overhead without visiting feeders. Several birds remain identifiable through behavior: woodpeckers forage in wood, while nuthatches can move down tree trunks headfirst.
The Christmas Bird Count is an annual Audubon tradition. Haywood describes it as the world’s longest-running bird count, with more than 125 years of data used to track population trends and inform conservation work. Participants can join a local count team, according to the report.
“The American Goldfinch is a prime example—those bright yellow birds molt into subdued olive-brown winter plumage.”
— Benjamin Haywood, as quoted by Country Living
What Backyard Sightings Depend On
The guide does not provide a location-by-location forecast or guarantee that all six birds will appear in any particular yard. Local species vary, and hawk sightings may be from a distance rather than at feeders. It also does not quantify how much any one feeding or planting choice changes bird numbers. Haywood’s explanation of the energy demands of goldfinch plumage is presented in the report as his account; the article does not supply further supporting research or measurements.
Prepare for Winter Bird Counts
Readers who want to support birds can keep appropriate feeder foods available, retain natural food sources and shelter, and look for local native plants to add in fall or early winter. People interested in contributing observations can check for a nearby Christmas Bird Count and join a team during the count period, December 14 through January 5. The report gives no further details about local registration, so participants should consult the organizers of their nearby count.
Key Questions
Which six birds does the report highlight?
It names American goldfinches, cardinals, woodpeckers, nuthatches, sparrows and hawks. Which species appear in a particular yard depends partly on location.
What food does the report recommend offering?
Benjamin Haywood recommends feeder foods including suet, black oil sunflower seeds and nyjer. The report also suggests retaining natural sources such as berries and seeds.
How can I provide shelter for winter birds?
The report points to brush piles and evergreen cover as shelter from wind and predators. It also recommends considering berry-producing shrubs and seed-bearing plants.
When does the Audubon Christmas Bird Count take place?
The report gives the count period as December 14 to January 5. It says beginners and experienced birders can join local teams.
Do goldfinches stay bright yellow all winter?
No. Haywood says American goldfinches molt into subdued olive-brown winter plumage, which can make them look different from their brighter summer appearance.
Source: countryliving.com
