Surviving The Cold

From stashing food to roosting in groups, birds have the means to flourish.

- Sheryl Devore

To withstand winter, birds take extra measures to stay warm and energized. Instead of reaching for mittens and long underwear like humans, birds grow more feathers, hide extra food and put on extra weight to fight the cold.

Cardinals, chickadees, woodpeckers and goldfinches all stick it out in colder regions while other birds fly to substantially warmer climates for winter. Some birds that stay in the northern U.S. breed in the far northern reaches of Canada in summer and fly only as far south as necessary to find food in winter. This means spending the winter in midwestern backyards, where their special adaptations help them keep warm and find food.

Juncos and American tree sparrows add extra weight for the coldest months of the year, gorging themselves when they can. The fat deposits they develop help them survive when seeds from plants and shrubs are covered with snow. Some species even change what they eat when their normal food sources are unavailable.