by Megan Hart, Park Biologist

Imagine you are standing in a winter forest. The trees have lost their leaves except for the deep green of the hemlock trees nearby. It is quiet as snow blankets the floor and the only sound you can hear is the wind through the trees. As you stand there reveling in the utter stillness a winter forest can provide, you hear the hint of a bird call in the distance. As it gets closer, you hear a familiar “chickadee-dee-dee.” Suddenly, a group of birds seem to appear out of nowhere. They flit back and forth, working their way along the trunks and branches in search of food. They seem to be all around you in the trees above. Then as soon as they came, they move through the forest. You just experienced a mixed winter flock.

Black-capped chickadee

If you took a minute to look closely at what was in the flock, you would probably notice several different species of birds. Leading the pack are dapper black-capped chickadees. Black-capped chickadees usually stick together in groups of a dozen or more in the winter and lead these multi-species flocks on their quest for food throughout the forest. Among them (and equally as active) are small gray tufted titmice, who get their names from the pointy crests at the top of their heads. If you turn to the trunks of the nearby trees, you will likely see white-breasted and red-breasted nuthatches climbing down trees in search of insects and cached seeds among the bark. Near them, downy woodpeckers may be climbing up the trees and tapping at the beetle larvae just beneath the bark. In this group of climbing birds, you might see the well-camouflaged brown creeper as it zigzags its way up the tree trunk probing with its curved bill between the cracks in the bark for tasty insects.

White-breasted nuthatch

I’m sure you’re wondering why so many different bird species would travel and search for food together. It boils down to a life lesson that proves true for many species: there’s safety in numbers. Birds of prey are always on the prowl for their next meal and a distracted foraging bird seems like an easy way to get some food during lean times. The benefit of a flock is that all individuals scan for danger. However, the main glue that brings different bird species to the mixed flock group are black-capped chickadees. They are not only flock leaders, but they are also the alarm system of the forest. Chickadees have a wonderful adaptation to alert other birds to the presence of a predator: the chickadee-dee-dee call. The more dee notes in the chickadee-dee-dee call, the higher the threat level of the predator. That’s right—not only are they able to warn their own species of danger, but many other wildlife species as well.

American robin

There are other bird species that flock together during the winter. You may notice flocks of American robins and cedar waxwings that go from fruiting tree to fruiting tree in search of any of last year’s fruits that may be left over. American goldfinches often form flocks that go from patch to patch of dead wildflowers and grasses to look for seeds. Mixed species flocks of sparrows like white-throated sparrows, American tree sparrows, dark-eyed juncos, and song sparrows often feed together by scratching through the dirt and snow for food. If you watch these sparrows closely, you can see different individuals turn their heads to the sky and search for any looming predators that they may need to hide from. If you’re very lucky, you may be out in a grassy area and see a flock of snow buntings foraging on the ground for food. These winter visitors are admittedly easier to spot when they are actively flying away from you and not as camouflaged with their surroundings. Ducks and geese also flock together in mixed flocks while feeding. If you’ve ever been present when an eagle or peregrine falcon flies toward a flock of waterfowl, you know how well the tactic of flocking works, as the entire flock of sometimes hundreds of waterfowl rocket skyward and away from the ground in a flush of wings and a thunder of honking and calling.

Song sparrow

You can experience flocking birds if you take a winter walk in one of the parks. To find forest flocks with chickadees, take a walk at Hogback Ridge Park, Jordan Creek Park, Girdled Road Reservation, Penitentiary Glen Reservation or Chapin Forest Reservation. If you are interested in seeing a waterfowl flock, try searching the water at Painesville Township Park, Veterans Park or Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park. Sparrow flocks can usually be found at Lake Erie Bluffs, Beaty Landing, River Road Park or Chagrin River Park near dense brushy areas. American robin and cedar waxwing flocks can be found anywhere with fruiting trees present like Lake Erie Bluffs, Penitentiary Glen Reservation, Lakeshore Reservation or Hogback Ridge Park. No matter what park you choose, you have an excellent chance to experience one of these flocks yourself. You just need to stroll through nature and take time to look and listen.

Brown creeper