TL;DR
Get garden gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
A Country Living report highlights six birds people may see in backyards during winter: goldfinches, cardinals, woodpeckers, nuthatches, sparrows and hawks. National Audubon Society community science director Benjamin Haywood recommends high-energy food, native plants and sheltered cover, and says people can contribute observations through the Christmas Bird Count, held December 14 to January 5.
A Country Living report has outlined six birds people may spot in their yards during winter and ways to support them, drawing on advice from Benjamin Haywood, the National Audubon Society’s director of community science. The recommendations include stocking feeders with energy-rich foods, retaining natural sources of food and shelter, and joining Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count to help collect observations from December 14 to January 5, alongside other ways to feed birds safely.
The six birds named in the report are American goldfinches, cardinals, woodpeckers, nuthatches, sparrows and hawks, species you may also encounter when attracting birds to your yard. Which species appear depends in part on location; the report notes that the types of sparrows seen in a yard vary by where people live. It also points out that hawks are more often seen circling overhead than close to a house, though several kinds are reported in winter, including red-tailed, sharp-shinned, rough-legged and Cooper’s hawks.
Some winter birds look different from their summer appearance. Haywood says American goldfinches molt into olive-brown plumage rather than retaining their familiar bright yellow color, one reason to learn what backyard birds need as seasons change. He attributes the less vivid feathers both to camouflage and to lower energy demands for maintaining them when cold weather and scarce food put pressure on birds. Cardinals change less dramatically: male birds are red and females are rosy brown, while feather wear and lighting can affect their appearance.
Other birds offer different clues for identification. Woodpeckers use their bills to drill into wood in search of insects, and include species ranging from the large pileated to the small downy woodpecker. Nuthatches have short tails and dark head markings; the report highlights their ability to move headfirst down tree trunks. Sparrows are generally small, rounded birds with short, pointed bills and brown or gray feathers. House sparrows, described in the report as widespread, can have black caps and markings around the eyes.
Food and Cover Through Winter
Winter support is not only a matter of putting out seed. Haywood advises combining reliable feeder food with natural food and places where birds can shelter. The report names suet, black oil sunflower seeds and nyjer as high-energy feeder options, while berry-producing shrubs and seed-bearing plants can provide food beyond feeders.
Brush piles and evergreen cover can provide protection from wind and predators, according to Haywood. Native plants are another part of his advice: he says fall and early winter are a suitable time to consider adding them to a yard or community space. These steps give readers practical ways to make a property more useful to birds during colder months without assuming that any single feeder or planting will attract every species.
Observations also have a broader use. The Christmas Bird Count lets participants contribute sightings as part of a coordinated count, rather than treating backyard birdwatching only as a personal activity. Haywood says the data have helped track population trends and inform conservation work.
Products Worth Considering
Greenworks 40V Cordless Leaf Blower/Vacuum, 505 CFM, 5.0 Ah Battery and Charger
Traeger Westwood Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker, 653 sq. in., WiFIRE
VEVOR 14-Pack Polycarbonate Greenhouse Panels, 2 × 4 ft
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Seasonal Changes and Bird Counts
The report’s central point is that winter changes what people see as well as where they see it. Some birds remain in yards or visit feeders, while others leave for the season; plumage can also shift between summer and winter. A bird that looks less colorful in cold weather may still be the same species, as the goldfinch example illustrates.
Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count is an annual effort that, Haywood says, has collected data for more than 125 years. Participants can join a local count with a team, including beginners, according to the report. The count takes place from December 14 through January 5. Its purpose is to gather observations over time, not to provide an immediate measure of bird populations from a single backyard.
Local Sightings Will Vary
The report does not give a national count of how many people see each species, nor does it establish that all six will appear in any particular yard. Local bird communities vary by region, and the report specifically notes geographic differences among sparrows. It also does not provide a single feeder formula or guarantee that particular foods will attract particular birds.
The article offers general identification and habitat guidance, rather than current population figures or a new conservation finding. How much a yard’s food and cover affect local bird numbers is not quantified in the source material. Readers should treat the species list as a set of birds to watch for, not a prediction of what they will see.
Watch, Support and Count
During winter, readers can watch for the six birds, keep suitable feeders stocked, and retain or add natural food and sheltered cover where practical. Haywood’s recommendations include suet, black oil sunflower seeds and nyjer, along with berry-producing shrubs, seed-bearing plants, brush piles and evergreens. The report does not prescribe quantities or a maintenance schedule.
People interested in contributing observations can look for a local Christmas Bird Count taking place from December 14 to January 5. Haywood says beginners can join a team and learn from other participants. The count’s next contribution will be part of a long-running dataset; the report does not specify results or dates for any particular local count.
Key Questions
Which six birds does the report say may appear in winter backyards?
It names American goldfinches, cardinals, woodpeckers, nuthatches, sparrows and hawks. Which ones people see depends on their location and local conditions.
What food does Benjamin Haywood recommend for feeders?
Haywood recommends suet, black oil sunflower seeds and nyjer as high-energy options. The report does not give serving amounts or say that one food will attract every species.
How else can a yard support birds in winter?
The report recommends considering berry-producing shrubs and seed-bearing plants, including native plants, as well as brush piles and evergreen cover that can provide shelter from wind and predators.
When is Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count?
The annual count runs from December 14 to January 5. Haywood says beginners and experienced birders can join a local team and contribute observations.
Why might a goldfinch look less yellow in winter?
Haywood says American goldfinches molt into subdued olive-brown winter plumage. He says the feathers may help with camouflage and take less energy to maintain when food is scarce and temperatures fall.
Source: countryliving.com
