Our cold winters in Ontario can be much more enjoyable if we care to watch some of the fascinating birds who thrive in our cold winters.

Please join me while we delve into some of these brave little creatures and their habits, likes and dislikes.

First up are Chickadees … those cute little characters bobbing around our back yards looking to be served suet, sunflower seeds or peanuts.

These pretty birds are identifiable by their large heads with a black cap, white cheeks and chest. They have delicate little bodies and are immensely curious.

Some of their character traits are that they like to live around willows, alders and birch trees.  Chickadees prefer to live in boxes of sawdust or shavings away from tree branches so that squirrels and others do not raid their nest.

Nuthatches are commonly found in Ontario during the winter as well as the rest of the seasons. They climb up and down trees and are usually white bodied with grey-blue sides and wings. They too have black on their heads, although not as large a patch as the chickadees. Nuthatches can vary in colour. Some are known as red breasted and have black and white striping on their heads. You might want to keep your eyes peeled to check out the different varieties. This is a good way to while away a cold day, from the warmth of your home.

These little creatures are known especially for running headfirst down trees. They have short tails and sharp beaks, and strong claws to keep themselves steady. Nuthatches dig out soft spots in trees and logs to nest. Their name comes from the fact that their strong beaks easily break nuts apart.

Their food consists of insects, like spiders and caterpillars during the warmer months, but switches to seeds and nuts, acorns, etc. in winter. Nuthatches appreciate bird feeders filled with the same seeds that the chickadees eat but they also eat dried fruit, suet pellets, seed balls, mealworms, tree nuts and suet spread. We need to choose high-quality food, avoiding mixes that contain milo or other grains, as they will not be eaten by nuthatches.

Next up are Juncos. They are another small but pretty bird. The most common Juncos found in the Ontario winters are the Dark Eyed Juncos.  Their pretty garb is usually a slate grey or brownish and can be spotted around bird feeders and on the ground under them to feast on the spilled bits. These birds are a medium sized sparrow. They have round heads and long feathered tails, of which the under feathers are white. Their blunt beaks are pinkish and rounded.

You can see Juncos mostly on the ground or in low bushes through forests and they venture onto lawns foraging for fallen seeds, which is why you will most probably watch them under your feeder in the cold weather.

Undoubtedly, we all recognize the striking Blue Jay flitting through our yards from tree to tree, scouting out food. These beautiful creatures are primarily dressed in blue, white, and black plumage with a jaunty crest. They are intelligent birds with a noisy call. Blue Jays usually fly from tree to tree singularly rather than in flocks and often, silently.

If you have or plant oak trees around your home, there will be more Blue Jays visiting as they are known for their love of acorns. They prefer tray feeders, and hoppers, rather than hanging feeders, filled with sunflower seeds, peanuts, cracked corn, suet, millet, and fruit.

A curious fact about these birds is that they rub ants on their feathers to drain the formic acid from them before devouring them. This is called “anting”. Experts figure that this practice is simply because the ants are tastier without the acid.

Nearly any bird feeder will attract the gorgeous Northern Cardinal. As in all animals, the male is breathtakingly beautiful. His striking red plumage attracts attention wherever he appears. The female is nothing to sneeze at though, with her red tinged feathers and red beak. Both male and female have pretty crests.

Northern Cardinals fiercely defend their breeding territory, and they can be seen chasing other birds from feeders until they are finished their feast. They nest in shrubs and trees around many of our properties. These birds prefer sunflower seeds, but are quite happy with cracked corn, peanut hearts, millet, etc.

Some believe that when a Cardinal appears in your garden, an angel is nearby. Of course, this belief is up to you to decide.

More detail on the various types of bird feeders and the different choices of feed can be accessed through your favourite pet store or large retail hardware stores. This could be both an educational and pleasant afternoon excursion.

Please seriously consider erecting a bird feeder for our little friends to flourish during our winters and in fact, all year long.

The birds described above are a mere sampling of those you can enjoy during Ontario’s winters, from inside your cozy home or venturing outside for the fresh air. I encourage you to escape into the realms of research. Birds are fascinating creatures.

I have listed some sites below for your perusal. Enjoy! 

• How to Choose the Right Kind of Bird Feeder | All About Birds
• Feeding Birds | All About Birds
• Nuthatch | The Canadian Encyclopedia
• 3 Types of Nuthatches in Canada! (2023) – Bird Watching HQ
• Dark-eyed Junco Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Blue Jay Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Northern Cardinal Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

WRITTEN BY: MARILYN LEGGETT