Winter Bird Watching Tips and Tricks

Guest post by Mary Nemecek of Burroughs Audobon. 

Hooded Merganser (Photo by Linda Williams)

Winter is a great time to get out and enjoy birds that are not seen in Missouri during other times of the year.  The bare landscape allows you to see far into its depths and the unfrozen lakes and ponds host many species of waterfowl.

On lakes, watch for ducks in striking plumage, that dive such as Common Goldeneye, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck and Hooded and Common Merganser. You may get to see the funny and memorable courtship behavior of the Hooded Merganser where the males, with their white crests fully extended, will thrust their heads backwards, touching their backs while making a croaking sound, not unlike that of a frog.  The female may respond by bobbing her head and uttering something that sounds like a short gack.

Bald Eagle

Watch for Bald Eagles soaring over the water, stirring up Snow Geese and looking for an easy meal.  You can often see a dozen or more in the air over a large lake at the same time.  Red-tailed Hawk numbers also peak in winter months.  Missouri has the privilege of hosting many different morphs of Red-tailed Hawks.  Some are very dark with no white, while others may be almost all white.  There have been a few reports of Northern Goshawks, the largest North American accipiter, in Missouri this year. They only come south every few years and are a highly prized find among birders. Also be sure to scan the shorelines, as Snowy Owls moving south in winter months are becoming a more frequent occurrence.  They are attracted to the uncluttered, rocky shores and open view over the water.

Around lakes, in grasslands, marshes and crop fields, Northern Harriers may be flying low and steady hoping for a quick snack. They will often hover over a spot for a short while. Harriers find their prey by listening for rustling in tall grass. Their disk-shaped face and stiff facial feathers are owl-like and help direct sound back to their ears. If there is tall grass around, wait until dusk, as the day show of Northern Harriers disappears and the night show of Short-eared Owls may begin.  Listen for the bark they make when vocalizing. Unfortunately, both of these birds are in steep population decline and are becoming harder to see.

Cedar Waxwing on Persimmon

The berry crop this year has been outstanding. Christmas Bird Counts in the state saw record numbers of Cedar Waxwings. They will feed on berries including Hackberry and Persimmon fruit.  Poison Ivy berries are a favorite winter food for Eastern Bluebirds and Yellow-rumped Warblers. It’s often believed that Eastern Bluebirds and American Robins leave the state in winter. Find any good berry stand and you will see they overwinter here in large numbers.

One of the best places to view Missouri’s winter birds is your own yard. Bird feeders, unfrozen water and suet are great attractions for birds. Planting native trees and plants will increase the diversity and bird populations outside your window. Fruit bearing plants may attract some of the berry lovers mentioned above. Seeds from Purple coneflowers, foxglove beardtongue and monarda are visited by American Goldfinches and many of our native sparrows. Tufted Titmice and White-breasted Nuthatches like Blue Jays, are Oak dependent species. Trees also bring the added advantage of woodpeckers including the infamous Yellow-bellied Sapsucker that often eluded Jane Hathaway in the ‘Beverly Hillbillies’.

Enjoy winter birds around the state and around your yard while you can. Many of these species will move north to their nesting grounds and not return until fall.

Mary Nemecek will be giving a seminar at our upcoming Explore the Outdoors – Kansas City event on February 21, 2015. The seminar will cover bird watching and attracting birds to your yard with native plants. For more information and to register for the event, click here.