By Megan Hart, Park Biologist

It may be hard to think of nature-based activities to do during the winter months, but this time of year can be a great time to get out and enjoy the season through winter birding. Believe it or not, winter is a great time to learn how to identify local resident birds and visiting winter migrants. For beginning birders, the winter has a great advantage in that there are less leaves and cover to contend with when it comes to locating and identifying birds. This can mean longer and better looks at the species flitting around in the trees and shrubs and better looks at their foraging and hunting behaviors.

Tufted titmouse

A great spot to look for birds in the parks during the winter is along forest edges. These areas are great for sparrows at this time of year. The Eastern towhee is the largest resident sparrow and is often seen shuffling its feet under brush looking for food. The male Eastern towhee stands out in winter with its deep black coloring up top, its rufous sides, and white belly. You may hear their “twhee” calls before seeing them. In this same area, you may find dark-eyed juncos, which are also called “snowbirds” because large numbers show up in the winter as they migrate south. Dark-eyed juncos are jaunty little sparrows with pink beaks, white bellies, and gray upper parts. They tend to forage in groups on the ground looking for any little bit of food. American tree sparrows may also be seen foraging among juncos and towhees and are winter migrant visitors to our area. They have long tails, rusty caps and eyelines, gray faces, and a dark central spot on their breasts. Resident song sparrows can be seen mixed in with these others in large foraging groups in search of leftover food. Song sparrows can be identified by the streaking on their breasts, russet stripes on the crown and through the eye, and their broad mustache stripes.

Eastern towhee

As you continue your walk and look up toward the treetops, you increase your chances of seeing other types of birds. Cedar waxwings are often heard before they are seen as groups of them fly through the treetops trilling their “bzeee” call. You can often find them near areas with fruiting trees and shrubs as they try to find the remnants of this year’s fruit. They are striking birds with black masks, waxy red coloration on the wings, yellow tips on their dark tails, and peachy brown heads and chests. Red-tailed hawks are also a common sight at the top of trees at the forest edge as they hunt for prey in the fields below. If you are lucky and watch long enough, you may get to witness this hunting in action as they grab a small mammal as it runs across the snow. In the evening hours, owls also use forest edges for hunting grounds for small mammals. With just the right amount of luck, you may be able to see Eastern screech, barred, or great horned owls as they scan for potential meals.

Cedar waxwing

During the winter months, some birds that can be considered year-round favorites become even more obvious against the white background of snow. Luckily, many of these birds are frequent visitors to feeders and can be perfect for observing from your window without having to make a trek in inclement weather. Birds like bright Northern cardinals and blue jays seem like brilliant pops of color against the wintry backdrop. Small black-capped chickadees and tufted titmice are easy to see as they flit through the trees foraging in groups or as they swoop down quickly to grab a sunflower seed from a backyard feeder. Woodpeckers also put on a great show this time of year, especially if you have suet feeders hanging up for them. Downy, hairy, and red-bellied woodpeckers are all common visitors to feeders in the winter. Pileated woodpeckers, our area’s largest woodpecker, will sometimes visit feeders, especially during these lean months.

Northern cardinal

This is just a small taste of the birds you can observe in winter. Winter birding can add a lot of excitement to any winter walk. All you need is a field guide, a pair of binoculars, and some good winter clothes to enjoy birding outside at this time of year. If birding from the comfort of your home seems more enjoyable, hanging feeders in your yard to attract birds to your home can be a great way to learn and observe resident and winter birds. If you are interested in winter birding in Lake Metroparks, any of our parks offer great birding. Some great locations to look for the winter birds are Lake Erie Bluffs, Hidden Lake, Chagrin River Park, Penitentiary Glen Reservation, Veterans Park and Beaty Landing.

Red-bellied woodpecker