Friday, January 18, 2013

But which Winter Bird is Best???

There are people in this world, people who spend lots of time preparing and fussing over their outfits and their hair. They walk, talk, and flaunt a certain way. Why do people do this? So that the rest of us can give them our attention, judge them, compare them, talk about them, etc. It's a time-hallowed tradition now done most notably and prodigiously at shopping malls and outside of movie theaters. Although their appearance is less in their control, birds have a propensity for these displays too, especially when potential mates are around. They want to be the loudest, the most magnificent, or the most established.  


As our feeders and fields, along with the blogosphere, are flooded with those essential regional winter birds, it is only appropriate then, even necessary, to host a discussion exploring which of the iconic winter wanderers is the BEST winter bird. Not all of the birds hosted here have a full range across the nation, but they're all recognizable and form a good basis. While spending a week of my winter break in Pennsylvania, a state with great birding diversity, I was able to see these winter staples and weigh their characteristics with the cynical judgment that can only be honed over years of people-watching at awkward social scenes. 
To be fair, there's a heavy eastern bias here, but also to be fair, the east coast hosts the traditional winter tropes more than we do in the west. So, White-crowned Sparrows, you won't make the list...

It seems fair to first address not only one of the most conspicuous winter birds, but one of the most well-known and loved throughout the country throughout the year. Also known as the Red Bandit and the Prayerful Passerine, ladies and gentlemen...The Northern Cardinal.

                    

No winter is complete without at least one Christmas card showing one of these birds perched on a  snowy branch, and no feeder is properly christened until the Cardinal has visited. Their stunning, rich red captivates the eyes and burns itself into the memory. With good reason, the Northern Cardinal has a reputation as one of the most beautiful birds in North America. However, they also suffer from over-exposure, as they have their brand bandied about on logos and decorations and greeting cards such that we're so saturated in Cardinals, they lose their luster sometimes. Even so, what a great bird.

Opposite the Cardinal in its red is the Eastern Bluebird in its vibrant blue. True enough, this bird is not as widespread as the Cardinal, and their counterpart Western Bluebirds do not have the same winter feel to them. But Eastern Bluebirds pose so nicely and often for their pictures in hallmark winter settings. Their rusty sides and rusty chin, along with the white belly, also makes for a more complex color palette, and there aren't many birds much cuter... 


Though the Black-capped Chickadee is probably one such cutey. These gregarious, garrulous go-getters are maybe the only birds that can compete with the Cardinal's popularity and recognition even outside of the birder circles. Although they have handsome plumage, they must make up for the shortfall in color with their rambunctious behavior, which they do quite well. 
In a lot of ways thought, the Chickadee suffers from the same over-saturation as the Cardinal. Namely, they're great birds, but choosing them as the BEST winter bird seems cheap, when their are other cool birds whose lower profile makes them more interesting.


Golden-crowned Kinglets benefit from being Kinglets, which is a great thing to be. Additionally and unlike their Ruby-crowned counterparts, they've always got some sort of crown on display, even if it's not the full monty. Overall, I guess there's not enough to really consider them for BEST winter bird, but I do enjoy seeing them and it wouldn't quite be the winter birding experience without them bouncing around, as if no one told them its cold outside. 


Though only found in the eastern half of the U.S., and also found year round, The Carolina Wren still feels like a quintessential winter bird to me. Maybe it's because there are fewer other birds around and their high-power songs stand out all the clearer. Like the Golden-crowned Kinglet, it couldn't be BEST winter bird, but it resonates with me as another essential to any good day of winter birding.




Like the Carolina Wren, the Downy Woodpecker really comes to the fore in winter due in part to the absence of other birds in the area. They're dexterous, tough little buggers and are some of the few birds one will see on the suet feeders through January and February. Plus, this bird has nice winter coloration. But BEST winter bird? Probably not.


Until someone convinces me otherwise, I'm throwing my vote for BEST winter bird to the White-throated Sparrow. Not content to just be White-crowned, they also sport the white, Santa Claus winter beards and some of the yellowest lores you'll see in North America. 


They descend on a fair portion of North America and in great numbers, but only for half of the year (give or take). As such, they're not over exposed, but they're not so overbearing as to be cheapened (at least, not for a visiting westerner like me). Plus, they're just Fabulous!



What do you think? Have I misrepresented all of these wintery birds? Am I missing some (absolutely!)? Who would you nominate for BEST winter bird?

14 comments:

  1. Estupendas capturas,son todas las especies muy bonitas.Para mi la mejor ave del invierno es el Petirrojo.Saludos

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    1. Thanks Isidro! That's a great one too. Some of these winter birds, as they forage in the soft snow, are able to bring so many memories and symbols together for the season. It's a marvel to behold.

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    1. Way to stick to your guns Peri Ann. The Chickadee is a mainstream bird, but don't let that detract. There are few cuter things in the bird world.

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  3. I agree that chickadees are awesome, but they are awesome all year round. Dark-eyed Juncos, on the other hand, are the definitive winter yard bird in my eyes.

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    1. That's a good point Mike, and unfortunately (and, somewhat unbelievably) I didn't get any satisfactory shots of Dark Eyed Juncos in PA, at least, none that would do em' justice.
      They certainly should be represented here though. Way to stick up for them!

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  4. I love all your winter birds from the east, they beckon me to head back there for a long visit!

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  5. I'm inclined to defend the cardinal. I think the cardinal's little explosion of red in the winder landscape makes it like a little deity in a world of white. The color is so decisive, and unambiguous, and his crown makes him regal. I guess I can appreciate your reluctance to choose that one, though--it's much as I would be reluctant to call something like Fur Elise or Beethovens 5th (you know: bum-bum-bum buuum!) my favorite piece of music, brilliant though they may be.
    Great post, though, as usual. Your picture of the Carolina wren takes the cake for cuteness.

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    1. Hmm, so you'd give the Cute Cake to Carolian Wren, but BEST Overall to the Cardinal.
      I follow your reasoning Joe, and upon reading your defense, you make me think I have still, despite my platitudes, undervalued the CArdinal and all it does to punctuate the white winters like little drops of blood.

      Also in your favor (and to my earlier point), the Cardinal is currently leading in the Blog/Facebook polls).

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  6. I think the Golden-crowned Kinglet is a great choice if we're limiting our scope to Passerines. Somehow they're easier to appreciate in the summer, but their wacky winter irruptions and ability to survive in ridiculous conditions for such a tiny bird make them one of the best winter Passerines.

    But why stick to Passerines? Ducks attract their mates in the winter, and there are so many species of ducks that we only get to see in the winter, when they're at their finest and at the height of displaying. I'll cast my vote for goldeneye. The way they toss their heads back and yell "jeeer"? Priceless.

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    1. WooHoo! I'm glad someone is standing up for the GC Kinglets. Eventually Scientists will realize that the keys to both unlimited, infinite, renewable energy AND the cures to all heart ailments reside in the Golden-crowned Kinglet's mojo.

      Regarding the Ducks, your point is well put and well taken. I left the winterfowl out since they seldom feature as yard birds during winter, so they don't feature as prominently in the overall American winter pysche (which, as I mentioned, is already biassed in favor of Eastern winters, which also feature Ducks less). That being said I don't disagree with you, and it's awesome that they rock their breeding plumage, for the most part, in the winter months.

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  7. Cardinals and Bluebirds. For winter birds, the contrast to the dreary weather and white snow makes those two colorful ones the best.

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    1. I appreciate your straightforward, unabashed proclamation Moe. However, I must similarly insist that you narrow it down to one superlative winter bird.
      Narrowing it down to two birds just doesn't cut it I'm afraid. After all, the epic battle between blue and red is an old as time itself. We must choose our sides.

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