The days are still cold but that doesn’t stop the birds from surviving and thriving. This February we have many recognizable birds. Keep an eye out for these birds by the feeders or out in our winter landscape of Illinois. I hope you enjoy this little slice of winter bird life in this blog!

Junco hyemalis

The Dark-eyed Junco is medium sized for a sparrow with a rounder head, a short beak, and a fairly long tail. A common and widespread animal through North America who become more plentiful in the winter month. This animal is one of the most common birds with an estimated population of about 630 million. It does have considerable variation in its appearance due to regional differences but generally they are dark gray or brown birds with a cute little pink bill and white tail feathers. The easiest way to recognize them is the contrasting dark mask or hood of feathers on their head. These Juncos forage on the ground pecking and scratching for seeds. They do enjoy their backyard feeders so keep an eye out for them if you have one! Their song is a musical trill of notes and if you want to listen to them click here!

Cardinalis cardinalis

Another common bird that I am sure many of you will recognize is the Northern Cardinal. They host a bright shade of red plumage that almost anyone can see scattered amongst the white snowy backdrop of our cold February month, as well as the lovely green of tree foliage during the summer months. The Northern Cardinal is a fairly large songbird with a short but thick bill and a prominent crest at the top of their head giving them a very punk-rocker look. Its red feathers cover most of its body is contrasted only by the strong black coloration that is around its beak. The Cardinal is a year round resident here in Illinois and enjoys a diverse amount of seeds. They are a big fan of most bird feeders too so they tend to be fairly easy to spot if you have any set out! The Northern Cardinal sing regularly with at least 16 different calls that they use to communicate with each other.

Dryocopus pileatus

Another bird with some striking red features, the Pileated Woodpecker is a large black bird with a shock of white along its neck and face and a massive mohawk of red feathers sitting atop its head. This is the largest woodpecker in Illinois with big broad wings and a long powerful beak. The way that they hunt for their food is similar to other woodpeckers but they make rectangular-shaped holes in rotten wood which they make primarily to catch carpenter ants. In large dead wood, they forage making excavations that can be a foot or more just for food. They also excavate out portions of dead trees for large nests and around that nest they claim large segments of territory which keep out many other woodpeckers. The Pileated Woodpecker makes many different kinds of noises. Many types of calls to chatter and communicate but they also drum on trees to establish themselves and defend their territory. If you want to hear any of those click here !

Bubo virginianus

A well known bird by name and style, the Great Horned Owl strikes fear in the hearts of many birds and mammals alike. It's a predator of famed proportion with intimidating yellow-eyes and tufts of fur on the sides of their head that look like horns giving them their impressive name. They are cloaked with a pale coloration of grays and browns with a reddish face on top of it. This is one of the most common owls in North America able to live in a diverse amount of ecosystems where they live year round. Their prey can range from small creatures like rodents and scorpions up to other larger creatures like geese, cats, and raptors. They have extremely strong talons that they use to kill their prey and if you were trying to force them open it requires almost 30 pounds of force. These owls are monogamous and look for a nesting area that was originally made by someone else. They hunt at night within their territory as well as defend it with imitating hoots. Their deep hoots that tend to be sung in tandem together between the pair, click here to be able to hear it. 

Poecile atricapillus

Another bird common to Illinois and that come to Severson in flocks thanks to our wide array of feeders, The Black-capped Chickadee is a inquisitive little bird that lives in Illinois year round. They have squat little bodies of brown and white feathers with a massive head and the top of their head is covered with a cap of black feathers (which one can assume is how they got their name). Chickadees travel in large groups and keep each other safe with their complex methods of communicating. They tell each other about the surrounding area and information about nearby birds, like their identity and if they are a threat or not. They are so consistent and trustworthy in this communication that many other flocks of birds that travel near chickadees tend to respond to the alarm calls and will fly away if an alarm is called. If you want to listen to some of their songs, calls, or other methods of communication click here.

We have some fun activities here at Severson this month. If you want an easy place to enjoy some nature and see some birds, here is our calendar . Keep an eye out for all of these feathered friends and enjoy February!