Curious about the winter avian visitors in your Wisconsin backyard? Witnessing the frigid outdoor spectacle of birds swarming your feeders while you cozy up by the window with a steaming beverage is a winter delight.
Familiarize yourself with the abundant assortment of Wisconsin’s common winter birds and learn how to entice even more of them to grace your yard, infusing your winter days with joy.
These are the avian inhabitants that frequently dominate Wisconsin’s bird checklists on ebird.org during the months of December and January.
The Leading 20 Winter Birds Found in Wisconsin Backyards:
1. Black-capped Chickadee (53.5%)
2. American Crow (44.4%)
3. Dark-eyed Junco (41.6%)
4. Downy Woodpecker (40.1%)
5. White-breasted Nuthatch (37.7%)
6. Northern Cardinal (35.7%)
7. American Goldfinch (33.3%)
8. Blue Jay (30.4%)
9. Mourning Dove (30.1%)
10. Red-bellied Woodpecker (27.4%)
11. House Sparrow (26.3%)
12. Hairy Woodpecker (24.2%)
13. House Finch (21%)
14. European Starling (17%)
15. American Tree Sparrow (16.5%)
16. Red-breasted Nuthatch (12.6%)
17. Rock Pigeon (12.2%)
18. Pine Siskin (8.7%)
19. Tufted Titmouse (8%)
20. American Robin (6.8%)
During winter, you’ll notice distinctive variations in the avian population compared to summer. Notably, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers make more frequent appearances, particularly at suet feeders.
House Wrens, Gray Catbirds, Red-eyed Vireos, Common Yellowthroats, Indigo Buntings, and Common Grackles migrate south during fall.
Meanwhile, American Tree Sparrows, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and Pine Siskins journey from their breeding grounds in the far north to grace Wisconsin with their presence.
Discover more about these winter bird species that grace Wisconsin’s feeders and backyards. Explore captivating photographs and uncover ways to attract these feathered wonders to your own backyard.
Unlock complimentary printables featuring year-round snapshots of Wisconsin’s backyard birds, allowing you to create your personal bird tally:
Wisconsin Backyard Birds with Free Printable
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Top 20 Most Common Winter Birds in Wisconsin Backyards:
1. Black-capped Chickadee
These adorable birds possess round heads and petite bodies. Black-capped Chickadees happily frequent backyard feeders, thoroughly investigating their surroundings, including curious encounters with humans!
Sporting black caps and beaks, white cheeks, and gray feathers on their back, wings, and tail, these avian delights can be spotted in forests, open woods, and parks. Black-capped Chickadees relish seeds, berries, insects, spiders, and suet.
When they seize a seed, they promptly find a perch to crack it open and devour its contents. To protect your feeders from larger bullies or squirrels and to prevent swarms of chickadees from dominating, the Woodlink Caged feeder provides a simple solution, ensuring effortless cleaning. Moreover, during winter, the Upside Down Suet Feeder aids these little fellows in acquiring much-needed winter sustenance.
To attract more Black-capped Chickadees to your backyard, try offering suet, sunflower seeds, and peanuts or peanut butter. They may even feed directly from your hand, often among the first birds to discover new feeders. Nest boxes filled with wood shavings are also likely to catch their attention.
The Black-capped Chickadee stands as the most frequently observed winter bird in Wisconsin, featuring in 53% of recorded checklists on ebird.org.
2. American Crow
American Crows, distinguished by their all-black plumage and hoarse, cawing calls, are sizable birds that thrive in various habitats, ranging from treetops and woodlands to fields, beaches, and urban areas.
These adaptable omnivores consume a wide array of food, including earthworms, insects, seeds, fruits, fish, young turtles, mussels, clams, and even eggs and nestlings of other bird species.
During winter, American Crows form large roosts comprising up to two million individuals.
To entice more American Crows to your backyard, you can scatter peanuts. However, it’s crucial to note that they may become a nuisance if attracted to garbage or pet food left unattended.
These intelligent birds, whether adored or not, frequently grace Wisconsin’s winter landscapes.
3. Dark-eyed Junco
Dark-eyed Juncos, resembling sparrows, display different color variations across different regions. In the eastern parts, they exhibit a slate-colored appearance, while their counterparts in the west feature black, white, and brown plumage.
These birds primarily inhabit open areas and partially wooded regions, often foraging on the ground. They are distributed widely across the continent, with some remaining resident year-round in the west and Appalachian Mountains, while those that breed in Canada and Alaska migrate south during winter, reaching a significant portion of the United States.
Juncos prefer feeding close to the ground, and it’s advisable to keep ground feeders away from shrubs that could provide hiding spots for cats and predators. Employing a covered feeder ensures the elements don’t spoil their dining experience. Alternatively, a budget-friendly option that allows rain drainage is a simple platform feeder.
To attract more Dark-eyed Juncos to your backyard, offer a variety of seeds such as black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer, cracked corn, millet, and peanuts. The ideal approach is to provide platform feeders or scatter the seeds directly on the ground.
4. Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpeckers, diminutive in size, are frequent visitors to backyard feeders. Often mingling with chickadees and nuthatches, these woodpeckers are a common sight during Wisconsin’s winter.
Their plumage showcases a combination of black and white, with a red patch adorning the back of their heads. While they bear resemblance to Hairy Woodpeckers, they are noticeably smaller in stature.
Downy Woodpeckers favor woodlots, streamsides, city parks, and backyards as their habitats. They predominantly consume insects and beetle larvae but also exhibit a fondness for berries, acorns, grains, and suet.
An upside-down suet feeder proves excellent for accommodating smaller woodpecker species like the Downy Woodpecker, offering protection from rain and deterring larger, more aggressive birds. Opting for a bulk pack of suet cakes ensures a more economical purchase.
Additionally, black oil sunflower seeds serve as a magnetic force, attracting more Downy Woodpeckers to your yard. Combining them with suet in a versatile suet and hopper feeder provides a dual-purpose feeding solution.
To captivate an increased number of Downy Woodpeckers, employ suet feeders. However, they also readily consume black oil sunflower seeds, millet, and peanuts on platform feeders.
5. White-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatches, characterized by their active behavior, boast gray-blue plumage on their back and white coloring on their face and belly, complemented by a black cap.
These clever birds exhibit a unique foraging technique, wedging large nuts and acorns into tree bark before hammering them with their bills, effectively “hatching” them to access the precious seeds inside.
Nuthatches harbor a fondness for black oil sunflower seeds. Utilizing a Droll Yankees feeder streamlines the cleaning process, preventing food from becoming moldy and safeguarding the well-being of the birds.
To allure White-breasted Nuthatches to your backyard, provide sunflower seeds and peanuts on tube feeders or suet feeders.
6. Northern Cardinal
The strikingly vibrant Northern Cardinal, boasting a bright red plumage in males with black accents on their faces, stands as a remarkable sight against the winter’s white backdrop. The females, adorned in brown hues, feature distinctive brown crests, red highlights, and red beaks.
During the breeding season, Northern Cardinals may occasionally display aggressive behavior, challenging their own reflections while meticulously guarding their territories.
Given their substantial size and relatively large beaks, these birds necessitate suitable hopper feeders or feeders with ample perching space. The robust Woodlink Absolute feeder, designed to resist tipping by cardinals, serves as an ideal choice. Its squirrel-proof feature is an added bonus.
To attract more Northern Cardinals to your backyard, supply them with sunflower seeds, peanut hearts, millet, and milo. They can be accommodated using large tube feeders, hoppers, platform feeders, or by scattering food on the ground. Incorporating a birdbath enhances their overall experience.
7. American Goldfinch
American Goldfinches exhibit a captivating transformation, with males donning vibrant yellow plumage highlighted by black accents during spring. Conversely, both females and males sport more subdued brown shades throughout winter.
Breeding in northern states and Canada before migrating to southern regions, these finches maintain a year-round presence across the rest of the United States. They inhabit weedy fields, overgrown areas, suburbs, parks, and backyards.
Goldfinches often travel in flocks, generating a mesmerizing spectacle when they converge. Accommodating such swarms necessitates the Droll Yankees flocker feeder, equipped with an impressive 20 ports to entice a multitude of these delightful birds.
To entice American Goldfinches, consider planting thistles and milkweed. They are also regular visitors to most bird feeders, displaying a preference for sunflower and nyjer seeds.
8. Blue Jay
Blue Jays, commonly encountered large songbirds, flaunt a distinctive appearance with their blue upright crests, blue and black backs, and white underbellies.
These vocal birds tend to travel in family groups, often feasting on acorns when available. While primarily resident, they may migrate from the far northwest of the United States, occasionally forming large flocks along the Great Lakes and Atlantic coastlines.
Forests, especially those rich in oak trees, serve as their preferred habitats. Additionally, Blue Jays frequent backyards in close proximity to feeders. In their dietary pursuits, they consume insects, nuts, seeds, grains, and occasionally pilfer eggs and nestlings from other bird species.
Given their larger size, Blue Jays prefer a “grab-and-go” feeding style. They seize peanuts or sunflower seeds before swiftly retreating to consume their prize. Employing platform or tray feeders facilitates their swift departure. The Woodlink Audubon Platform Feeder, which can be hung, pole-mounted, or placed on the ground, incorporates a mesh screen at the bottom to enable rain drainage, preventing feed from becoming moldy.
To attract more Blue Jays, consider offering peanuts, sunflower seeds, suet, and providing tray feeders or hopper feeders mounted on posts. They will also relish the presence of a birdbath.
9. Mourning Dove
Mourning Doves, characterized by their graceful demeanor, exhibit small heads, plump bodies, and long tails. Their soft brown plumage features black spots on the wings.
Often perched on telephone wires, these birds forage for seeds on the ground in grasslands, fields, and backyards. They thrive in open areas or at woodland peripheries. While common throughout the lower 48 states year-round, they may migrate after breeding, particularly from northern regions.
Similar to other ground-feeding species, Mourning Doves benefit from elevated feeders that deter cats and predators. A covered feeder provides an excellent solution, safeguarding the food from the elements. Alternatively, a simple platform feeder allows rain to drain out, ensuring optimal feeding conditions.
To attract more Mourning Doves, scatter millet on the ground or employ platform feeders. They also readily consume black sunflower seeds, nyjer, cracked corn, and peanut hearts.
10. Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpeckers exhibit a pale red belly, sometimes challenging to discern, along with red caps, napes, and black-and-white striped backs. These woodpeckers closely resemble Hairy Woodpeckers but possess a more compact size, measuring around 9 inches.
Renowned for their distinctive calls during spring and summer, Red-bellied Woodpeckers inhabit woods, particularly those with decaying wood, across eastern states. Their diet predominantly consists of insects and spiders, but they also indulge in acorns, nuts, pine cones, seeds, fruits, and even visit hummingbird feeders. Planting native berry trees such as hawthorn or mountain-ash can further enhance their attraction.
Suet proves to be a favored delicacy for Red-bellied Woodpeckers. Employing an upside-down suet feeder deters squirrels and prevents larger birds from monopolizing the feeder. Acquiring suet cakes in bulk ensures a cost-effective approach. Additionally, combining black oil sunflower seeds with suet using a versatile suet and hopper feeder provides a dual-purpose feeding station.
To entice more Red-bellied Woodpeckers, make use of suet feeders alongside black oil sunflower seeds, millet, and peanuts on platform feeders.
11. House Sparrow
The House Sparrow, an introduced species that has thrived remarkably, now stands as one of the most prevalent birds. These adaptable birds frequently inhabit areas near houses and buildings, often displaying a degree of tameness that may even result in them feeding directly from your hand.
Although considered non-native and sometimes deemed pests, House Sparrows frequently grace backyards, even without intentional feeding.
To accommodate smaller birds and deter larger “bully” birds like starlings, grackles, and blackbirds from monopolizing your bird feed, tube feeders with cages prove indispensable. The Woodlink Caged feeder provides effortless cleaning and serves as a perfect choice for smaller birds.
To attract more House Sparrows, offer a variety of birdseed, including millet, corn, and sunflower seeds.
12. Hairy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpeckers, adorned with black and white plumage and a red patch on the back of their heads, closely resemble Downy Woodpeckers. However, they are slightly larger than their lookalike counterparts.
These woodpeckers inhabit woodlands, forests, parks, and back
yards, often making appearances at feeders. Hairy Woodpeckers rank among the common winter birds in Wisconsin.
To entice more Hairy Woodpeckers, suet feeders prove effective, along with offerings of peanuts and black oil sunflower seeds on platform feeders. Squirrel-proof suet feeders equipped with cages deter larger birds, ensuring the woodpeckers receive their fair share. Acquiring suet cakes in bulk offers a more economical solution. Combining suet with black oil sunflower seeds using a versatile suet and hopper feeder serves as a two-in-one feeding option.
13. House Finch
House Finches exhibit red heads and breasts in males, while females sport brown-streaked plumage. Originally prevalent in western states, they have successfully expanded their presence to eastern regions, sometimes outcompeting the Purple Finch.
These birds frequent parks, farms, forest edges, and backyard feeders, often forming noisy and noticeable groups.
Finches display a particular affinity for nyjer seeds. Employing an easy-to-clean finch feeder, such as the one offered by Droll Yankees, ensures the health and satisfaction of these wild birds.
To attract more House Finches, provide black oil sunflower seeds or nyjer seeds on tube feeders or platform feeders.
14. European Starling
European Starlings, although not native, have become one of the most abundant songbirds. Their stocky bodies boast iridescent purple, green, and blue hues.
Some consider European Starlings pests due to their aggressive behavior. These birds often form large, noisy flocks and can be observed perched atop trees or flying in unison over fields. Employing tube feeders with cages effectively prevents European Starlings from dominating feeders. The Woodlink Caged feeder offers easy cleaning and ensures smaller birds can access the feed while deterring the starlings.
To attract more European Starlings, provide black oil sunflower seeds, suet, cracked corn, and peanuts.
15. American Tree Sparrow
American Tree Sparrows appear during winter after breeding in Canada. These plump, brown-streaked birds exhibit rusty caps, gray faces, and rusty eyelines. They forage in small flocks in weedy fields and beneath bird feeders.
As with other small birds, employing tube feeders with cages prevents larger “bully” birds from monopolizing the food and intimidating smaller songbirds. The Woodlink Caged feeder ensures easy cleaning and serves as an ideal choice for small birds.
To attract American Tree Sparrows to your backyard, provide black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer, cracked corn, and millet on platform feeders. They also forage on the ground beneath tube feeders, searching for dropped or discarded seeds.
16. Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatches remain in northern states and Canada throughout the year, but they may migrate south during winter if cone crops are scarce.
These blue-gray birds boast black and white head stripes and a rusty underside.
Red-breasted Nuthatches frequent coniferous woods, relying on cones as a food source. They do visit backyard feeders as well.
To entice Red-breasted Nuthatches, offer black oil sunflower seeds, suet feeders, peanuts, and mealworms.
17. Rock Pigeon
Rock Pigeons display bluish-gray plumage with two black bands on their wings and black tail tips. Their iridescent throat feathers and orange eyes add to their distinct appearance.
While commonly found in cities, Rock Pigeons also visit backyards in search of ground-based food sources. However, some cities have ordinances against feeding pigeons due to their classification as pests.
18. Pine Siskin
Pine Siskins are brown-streaked finches with yellow flashes on their wing and tail edges. They possess small, pointed beaks and forked tails.
Breeding in Canada’s coniferous woods, they remain in parts of certain northern states and the Rockies throughout the year. Their presence during winter spans a wider range, albeit with varying timing and extent.
Nyjer seeds rank among the favorite foods of Siskins. Employing an easy-to-clean finch feeder from Droll Yankees ensures a steady influx of these charming birds.
Flocks of Pine Siskins forage for seeds and visit backyard feeders, where they readily consume nyjer seeds, millet, and hulled sunflower seeds.
19. Tufted Titmouse
Tufted Titmice, with their gray back and white underbellies, sport adorable gray crests and large eyes. They often flock alongside chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers.
Although assertive towards smaller birds, Tufted Titmice frequent woodlands, parks, and backyard feeders.
To attract Tufted Titmice, offer sunflower seeds, suet, and peanuts on tube feeders or suet feeders. They also readily feed from platform feeders or hopper feeders. The Woodlink Hopper Feeder, squirrel-proof and rain-protected, proves exceptionally sturdy, ensuring long-lasting use. Titmice particularly appreciate suet feeders equipped with tail props for balancing their long tails.
20. American Robin
American Robins, often spotted on lawns as they feast on earthworms, display black heads and backs accompanied by red or orange breasts. Their presence in backyards tends to be more prevalent during spring, as they tend to roost in trees during winter.
While American Robins do not typically visit feeders, they frequent backyards and thrive in habitats teeming with insects. Occasionally, they may consume sunflower seeds, suet, peanut hearts, fruit, and mealworms on platform feeders situated on the ground.
Attracting Birds to Your Wisconsin Backyard: Effective Bird Feeders and Identification Tips
To enhance bird diversity in your Wisconsin backyard, a range of bird feeders will prove beneficial, with suet feeders being particularly popular during winter. Various types of birdseed can be utilized in tube feeders to attract different bird species. For instance, black oil sunflower seeds entice Goldfinches, Chickadees, Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, and Pine Siskins.
Ground feeders or trays placed beneath tube feeders, filled with black oil sunflower seeds, can attract Cardinals, Jays, Finches, and Sparrows. Platform feeders with Millet or Corn are ideal for attracting small and medium-sized birds like sparrows, Blackbirds, Towhees, Juncos, Doves, Grackles, and Starlings. Peanut feeders are favored by Woodpeckers, Chickadees, Nuthatches, Titmice, Jays, Juncos, Finches, and Sparrows. Suet feeders, especially during winter, prove excellent for Woodpeckers, Cardinals, Nuthatches, Kinglets, Wrens, and Chickadees.
To attract a greater variety of birds to your Wisconsin yard, consider the following tips:
1. Provide bird feeders that cater to different bird types, encouraging a diverse range of species to visit your yard.
2. Install a water feature such as a clean birdbath, fountain, or stream. In winter, a heated birdbath prevents ice build-up.
3. Cultivate native plants that offer food and shelter, such as blackberries, wild grasses, elderberries, serviceberries, Oaks, Beeches, Cherries, sumacs, hemlocks, Purple Coneflowers, Sunflowers, Milkweed, Cardinal Flowers, Trumpet Honeysuckle, Virginia Creeper, Buttonbush, and Dogwoods.
4. Allow your grass to grow longer, providing cover and a source of seeds.
5. Maintain a brush pile to offer food, protection, and nesting opportunities for birds.
6. Avoid using pesticides and herbicides, which can be toxic to birds and diminish natural foraging opportunities for insects and seeds.
7. Set up nest boxes to attract breeding birds, ensuring they are cleaned annually.
How to Identify Birds in Wisconsin
For effective bird identification in Wisconsin, the following tips can be helpful:
1. Size: Note the bird’s size, categorizing it as small, medium, or large in comparison to common references like sparrows, pigeons, or geese.
2. Shape: Observe the bird’s silhouette, paying attention to tail length, bill shape, wing shape, and overall body shape. Consider sketching or describing the outline.
3. Color Pattern: Identify the main colors on the head, back, belly, wings, and tail, noting any secondary colors or patterns. Look for banding, spots, or highlights.
4. Behavior: Take note of the bird’s location, whether it’s on the ground or in the trees, its flocking behavior, and its feeding preferences.
5. Habitat: Consider the bird’s preferred habitat, such as woodlands, parks, shrubs, grasslands, meadows, or shores.
6. Utilize bird identification apps like those developed by ebird or Audubon.
By implementing these strategies, you can create an inviting environment for birds and enjoy the wonders of bird watching in Wisconsin.