Understanding How Birds Stay Warm in Winter

Hi Bird Watchers,

Central New York is in the middle of one of those “Freakin’ Frigid” cold snaps I like to complain about. It’s been bitterly cold since mid-January. While I’m lucky to have a cozy, heated home with running water, I can’t help but think about the birds braving the cold, especially their tiny feet. How do they manage in this icy weather?

A blue bird cozying up to two smaller, muted-colored birds perched on a branch, surrounded by green leaves.

This morning, I peeked out from behind my thermal drapes to check on the feeders hanging from the patio roof. My snooping startled at least seven Mourning Doves. I’ve said before in another post called Surprise: Pigs do fly! They’re just disguised as Mourning Doves, but even they must survive these freezing temps.

Later, my one-and-only cardinal showed up, along with some winter goldfinches, dark-eyed juncos, and a giant blue jay who made quite the entrance. I might grumble when they scatter seed everywhere, but I must admit, the blue jay’s bright feathers against the snow look amazing. Staying warm and keeping their energy up is crucial for these winter birds to survive the snow and temperatures below zero. Luckily, birds have developed some impressive strategies to get through the worst weather. Here are a few winter survival moves you might spot out your window or while birdwatching.

Preen and Powder

Preening and powdering for birds is kind of like when women sneak off to the powder room at a wedding while the band is on break. But birds don’t do it for special occasions unless they purposely show up for The Audubon Christmas Bird Count.

Unlike humans, birds use their beaks to clean and arrange their feathers, picking out dirt and bugs and ensuring their feathers are perfectly aligned for flight. Preening also locks the tiny parts of each feather together, keeping water out.

Birds have a little gland near their tail that produces oil. How convenient for them!! When they spread this oil on their feathers, it keeps them soft, flexible, and clean, and helps protect against germs. Interestingly, it’s not just the oil that makes them waterproof. Some birds, like pigeons, herons, and parrots, use a fine powder from special feathers instead. They dust this powder over themselves during preening, which also helps keep feathers clean and somewhat waterproof.

Whether it’s oil or powder, the bottom line is that birds must keep their feathers in top condition, so they fit tightly together and block out water.

The Huddle

Songbirds also bunch together for warmth, slow their metabolism, or hide out in tree cavities and nest boxes to stay safe from the cold and predators. Larger birds will flock together to share body heat, too.

Three birds sitting on a branch, two are small and gray with hints of orange, while one is larger, vibrant blue with black accents.

But What About Their Legs and Feet??

Ever wondered how birds keep their legs warm? Are they buying thermal-lined pants at Costco or stocking up on Carhartt wool socks from Tractor Supply? Unlike we central New Yorkers, nature has the birds covered.

Countercurrent Heat Exchange: Arteries carrying warm blood to the feet run immediately alongside veins returning cold blood to the body. It’s like nature’s version of Syracuse University heated sidewalks, except instead of melting snow, it’s keeping bird toes just above freezing. This clever plumbing keeps their feet toasty without wasting precious body heat. Imagine if your winter boots worked like this: warm on the way down and cool on the way back up, with no need for battery-powered socks!

Two colorful birds wearing oversized boots, standing on a gravel surface with a blurred green background.

Want to Help Out?

If you want to give birds a hand through winter, try offering high-energy foods like suet, peanuts, and black oil sunflower seeds. Water is important all year, so a heated bird bath can really help. Just keep it clean! You can also provide shelter by setting up roosting boxes or leaving dead trees for birds that use cavities. Planting fruit trees and shrubs can attract species like cedar waxwings (just make sure they’re native plants). If fruit trees aren’t your thing, evergreens are a great option, too!

A group of brightly colored birds perched around a bird feeder, with a mix of yellow, orange, and blue plumage.

If you’re not in Central New York, let me know in the comments where you’re birdwatching from. That will help me better serve you with good content. Do you see any birds in your backyard preening and powdering? Let me know in the comments.

Sources:

https://www.audubon.org/magazine/how-do-birds-cope-cold-winter-weather

https://www.fws.gov/story/how-do-birds-keep-warm-winter

https://asknature.org/strategy/preening-waterproofs-feathers

A vibrant scene featuring a male Northern Cardinal alongside a Blue Jay, surrounded by various feeder birds in a snowy landscape.

Dear bird fans,

Now that fall migration is over, and the smart birds have flown the coop for sunnier locations, other, tougher birds hang out in colder regions. By the way, migrating birds are no smarter than the winter birds; they’re just different. It’s like going to Long Point Winery or Johnson Estate Winery. Same species, different process.

Apparently, some birds haven’t heard of Florida, where many Central New Yorkers birds and “people” go for the winter months.

A small, colorful bird perched on a shiny black surface, with green palm leaves in the background.

But, here at home, you’ll spot common feeder birds like Black-capped Chickadees, Northern Cardinals, and various woodpeckers, all braving the cold with enthusiasm, plus hardy waterfowl and raptors who must have lost their bird minds. It’s just Mother Nature’s way of keeping things interesting.

Common Backyard/Feeder Birds in Winter

Dark-eyed Juncos are often called “snowbirds” because they arrive from the north just as winter begins in the region. These birds clearly know how to beat the crowd and have zero complaints about airport crowds because clearly they are headed in the most unpopular direction.

A Dark-eyed Junco perched on a branch, showcasing its gray and white plumage.

Male Northern Cardinals stand out against the snow in their bright red plumage is nature’s way of making sure you never lose track of your bird feeder’s most dramatic guest. Read more on my post.

A vibrant male Northern Cardinal perched on a snow-covered branch, surrounded by winter foliage.

Black-capped Chickadee, in particular, is so tough it can lower its body temperature to get through cold nights. Sweaters are for amateurs, these birds basically audition for the ugly sweater contest at Liquid State Brewing Co every night.

A close-up of a Black-capped Chickadee perched on a wooden branch, showcasing its distinctive black cap, white cheeks, and grayish body.

In winter, Goldfinches lose their bright yellow breeding colors and transform into a drab, dull olive-brown or grayish-brown, making them look almost unrecognizable, with males becoming less yellow and females more gray/brown. Read more

A close-up of an American Goldfinch perched on a bird feeder, displaying its dull olive-brown winter plumage.

The Tufted Titmouse is the squirrel of the bird world tucking away seeds like it’s prepping for a feathered apocalypse every winter. Think Walmart on Black Friday.

A Tufted Titmouse perched on a branch, showcasing its distinctive tufted crest and grayish plumage with a hint of orange on its side.

You can often spot the White-breasted Nuthatch moving head-first down tree trunks while searching for food. It’s the only bird that auditions for Spider-Man daily, making squirrels drop their acorns in shock.

A White-breasted Nuthatch clinging to a tree trunk, showcasing its distinctive blue-gray back and white breast.

Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers are both common think of them as the neighborhood regulars at your backyard diner. The Downy Woodpecker’s small size lets it feed on just about anything, even weed stalks (think of it as the snack-sized woodpecker with a big appetite).Red-bellied Woodpeckers also stick around all year, probably because they can’t resist the local menu.

Two Downy Woodpeckers clinging to a metal pole, one facing left and the other facing right, showcasing their distinctive black and white plumage and red markings.

Blue Jays are smart and adaptable birds that live in the region all year. They’re so clever, they’ve probably figured out how to order birdseed online by now.

A Blue Jay perched on a thin branch with a soft focus background.

Who can forget the lovely Mourning Doves? While some people claim it’s their favorite birds, I see them as messy feeder hogs. Read on another of my posts about why Mourning doves aren’t my favorite bird.

A close-up of a Mourning Dove perched on a wooden post, showcasing its soft, muted plumage and gentle features.

Waterfowl and Raptor

You can spot Bald Eagles along the shores of larger lakes like Seneca and Cayuga from December to February, hunting for fish under the ice because who needs Wegmans grocery store when you have talons and attitude? Thinking about visiting? Click the link for more info. FLX Treehouses and Coastal Cottage.
Large white Mute Swans while nooften seen in the Finger Lakes region and Lake Ontario, gliding along like royalty on parade (minus the crown). While Mute Swan are considered an invasive species, they often pass through during migration, probably just stopping to stretch their wings and gossip about the locals. Learn more here.
Ducks like Common Mergansers, Common Goldeneyes, Buffleheads, and Mallards look for parts of the Finger Lakes and Central New York that don’t freeze because, shockingly, even ducks prefer not to ice skate. Learn more here.
Flocks of Snow Geese, sometimes in the thousands, pass through the area in late winter as they migrate making the sky look like a badly shaken pillow fight. Learn more here.

A Snow Goose standing on grassy ground, displaying its white plumage and distinguishing black-tipped wings.

Irruptive Visitors

Some species show up only some winters, depending on how much food is available farther north:

Have you seen any interesting birds at your backyard feeders? Drop me a comment. Inquiring birdbrains want to know.

References:

If you want more details about where to find these birds or recent sightings, check resources like the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon and eBird.

Most photos borrowed from All About Birds. Photo credit noted.