The Wings of Winter

Winter Birds

The winter season is hard on wildlife, but most of all the birds. Some bird species migrate to warmer climates, but many do not. There is quite an assortment of beautiful birds that are permanent residents of, or that visit Louisiana during the winter. This lens is about our favorite winter birds and the things that we do to help insure their survival in cold weather.

How we take care of our winter birds helps many birders up north because many of these birds migrate north in spring to nest and to be enjoyed by birders in the northern states.

You will also find some gift ideas for the birder on your list. We have listed cameras, binoculars, books, apparel and other things that we birders would love to receive.

Crumbs on the Snow

When it's winter and the snow
Like a tablecloth is spread,
I remember hungry birds
And see that they are fed.
On their snowy tablecloth
They find my gift of bread.

Lucretia Penny

Birding in Winter

One of our favorite forms of entertainment during the winter is bird-watching and because we also feed the birds and plant winter food plants all around our property, we hardly have to leave our own home to see a variety of interesting and beautiful birds. Because most of the trees and shrubs have lost their leaves during the winter, the birds are so much easier to see and enjoy. All you need is a good pair of binoculars and you can enjoy the fantastic show outside from the comfort of your own home.

Of course, since we are outdoor people, we (and our 2 dogs) walk to the river each day to fill up the many bird feeders that we have all over our 9 acres. We always bring binoculars or a camera because there is usually something interesting to see.

Each December, we participate in the Christmas Bird Count. This is a day in which birders from all over the country locate as many bird species as possible and count the number of individuals for the Audubon Society. Here is a link to our 2008 Christmas Bird count. We observed and counted 36 species, but did not see several birds that we knew lived here.

Northern Cardinals

Cardinals are permanent residents and are one of our most beautiful winter birds. The male's bright red color and the female's soft brown with touches of red always brighten up a winter day. Cardinals are seed eaters and visit our black oil sunflower seed feeders often.

Buy Cardinal in Holly Postcard and Female Cardinal by naturegirl7

The Cardinal's Nest

Every bird-watcher and most children recognize the male Northern Cardinal, but many people know nothing about its nesting and courtship habits. Through the years, we have been able to observe and photograph most of the mating behavior of our beautifu...

Carolina Chickadees and Tufted Titmice

During winter small flocks of Chickadees, Titmice and Downy Woodpeckers travel through the forests and visit feeders, searching for food. It is during the winter that the immature birds in the flock develop pair bonds in preparation for mating in spring. These small flocks love black oil sunflower seed and suet. They also eat many wild seed and berries.

Buy Carolina Chickadee and Tufted Titmouse Bath Postcard by naturegirl7

Carolina Chickadees

Carolina Chickadees are great little cavity nesting birds and nest in early spring. They are permanent residents in the Eastern United States and coexist well with humans since they love sunflower seeds and suet. Chickadees are very under rated and e...

Woodpeckers

In our habitat, here in Louisiana, there are many species of woodpeckers, including: (from largest to smallest) Pileated, Northern Flicker, Red-bellied, Red-headed, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Hairy Woodpecker and Downy Woodpecker. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a winter visitor that pecks sap wells in trees which in turn attract and trap insects. The Red-headed Woodpecker is seen mainly in spring and summer. All the others are year round residents that eat sunflower seeds, suet and the insects from rotting wood.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Buy Red-bellied Woodpecker by naturegirl7

Red-headed Woodpecker

Red-headed Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Female Downy
Female Male

Red-bellied Woodpecker Family

The only good thing that Hurricane Katrina did for Southeastern Louisiana was to leave plenty of broken trees in which the woodpeckers and other cavity nesting birds could raise their young. The Red-bellied Woodpeckers have been very prolific this ye...

Nuthatches

Our resident Southeastern U.S. nuthatch is the little Brown-headed Nuthatch. It is similar to the Pygmy Nuthatch of the west. These acrobatic little birds need pine forests to survive because pine nuts are their primary food. They will also eat black oil sunflower seeds and suet, so providing a bird feeder will aid in their survival.

Buy Brown-headed Nuthatch Poster by naturegirl7

Occasionally in winter, Red-breasted Nuthatches will make their way down this far south. During the winter of 2007-08 several spent the entire winter here. These amusing little birds with their honking call are a delight to watch.

Buy Red-breasted Nuthatch Postage by naturegirl7

Brown-headed Nuthatch of the Southeastern U. S.

Brown-headed Nuthatches are indigenous to the Pine forests of the Southeastern United States where they are permanent residents. They are one of nature's acrobats and we never tire of their antics. Their primary food is Pine nuts, so their food suppl...

Goldfinches Flickr Photos

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Goldfinches, at last...

Here to Do Battle

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Goldfinches

Finch Feeder

Food fight

Gathering for a meal

Do you mind? I'm tr...

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Goldfinches

goldfinches feeding Each year flocks of American Goldfinches in their winter plumage come from the north to visit our sunflower and Thistle seed feeders. It's best not to fill up the Thistle feeders until the birds arrive, because the seed must be fresh or they won't eat it. By spring, some of the males are beginning to show the beautiful bright yellow breeding plumage like the one below. Before Hurricane Katrina, we used to host flocks of 200 or more Goldfinches in our habitat, but now we are lucky to have 25 to 30 at one time.

Buy Goldfinch on branch by SteeveO69

Birds in Winter

Birds in Winter (Through the Seasons, 4.)

by: Stephen Maslowski, Adele Richardson

Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2009)

Ruby-crowned Kinglets

rubycrown eating suet Ruby-crowned (and sometimes Golden Crowned) Kinglets spend the winter with us. They are tiny, active little greenish gray birds with a white eye ring and yellow-orange feet. The males have a red "crown" that stays hidden under a tuft of feathers except when they are agitated or excited. They love suet and they will pick at the seed on our log feeders, but are probably looking for insects. They will also visit the hummingbird feeders that we leave up year round. Most of the time Kinglets are in perpetual motion as they work each branch, looking under every leaf for tiny insect food.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

The tiny Ruby-crowned Kinglet is one of our favorite winter residents. Being just a little bit larger than a hummingbird, you would think that this bird would be shy, but it's not. These lovely little nymphs are in perpetual motion as they travel th...

Pine Warblers

Pine Warblers are permanent residents in our habitat. They spend most of their time high in the mature pine trees throughout our property. But in winter, they come down out of the tree tops to visit the suet and seed feeders. Pine Warblers are the only seed eating Warbler and they make their home in the Pine trees on our property. The males are quite attractive with their bright golden yellow breast and the females, though less showy are also quite lovely.

Pine Warblers of the Forests

The Pine Warbler is a beautiful yellow and olive green bird that inhabits Pine forests all over the United States. In the south, these birds are permanent residents, but in the north, they migrate south in winter. Because they are the only Warbler th...

Carolina Wrens

Carolina Wrens, with their many vocalizations, are evident during every season. They mate for life and usually are seen in pairs, even in winter. They absolutely love suet and will monopolize any suet feeder. They also eat tons of insects, so they are beloved by gardeners. Don't leave your Christmas Wreath up too long, because as soon as the weather warms up, these birds are looking for placed to build their nests.

Buy Carolina Wren Poster by naturegirl7

Carolina Wren's Nest

The little brown Carolina Wren pair with their perky tails and loud voice builds a nest somewhere around our house each year. This year we photographed their nest in the hanging basket on the porch. This lens contains information about Carolina Wren...

Eastern Bluebirds

The lovely Eastern Bluebirds spend the winter in groups going through the woods and forest, eating winter berries. Bluebirds also like suet, but we have never seen them eating any from our feeders. Water is an important feature for Bluebirds, so an unfrozen feeder or pond will be appreciated by them. Many times we have seen pairs checking out nest boxes in December and January. They also use nest boxes as shelters in which to roost during the really cold nights of winter.

Buy Proud Bluebird Poster by naturegirl7

Gifts for the Birder on Your List

Are you looking for a gift for the birders on your list? You've come to the right place. We are nature lovers and have searched the web to find great gifts that we would like to receive. We have highlighted the best books, binoculars, cameras, appare...

Nest Box Trails for Bluebirds and Others

Lawrence Zeleny's book, the Bluebird How You Can Help Its Fight for Survival, alerted the public about the peril of our native Bluebirds. Now people all over North America are building and maintaining Bluebird Trails. Anyone can start their own trail...

Bluebird Tribute in Video and Song

This is a tribute to the beautiful and joyful Bluebird of the fields and forests of the U.S. Young and old alike should enjoy this lens which features Bluebirds in YouTube Video, Songs and literature. Yes, this is a love fest for Bluebirds, whether t...

Birds of Winter on Zazzle

Birds of Winter Designs by naturegirl7

The Wings of Winter

Winter Birds

Contents at a Glance

Contents at a Glance

Crumbs on the Snow

Birding in Winter

Northern Cardinals

Carolina Chickadees and Tufted Titmice

Woodpeckers

Nuthatches

Goldfinches Flickr Photos

Goldfinches

Birds in Winter

Ruby-crowned Kinglets

Pine Warblers

Carolina Wrens

Eastern Bluebirds

Birds of Winter on Zazzle

Winged Christmas Ornaments on Amazon

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Food Plants

Binoculars and Cameras at Amazon

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Backyard Birds in Winter

Suplemental Food and Water

Birds in Winter in Kerrville, TN

Backyard Bird Feeder's Bible

Winter Birds Books and Things

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Feeding Winter Birds

Attracting and Feeding Birds YouTube vid

Attracting and Feeding Birds

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Red Cardinals on CafePress

Little Tchefuncte Hummingbird Hill Habitat Journal