iowa winter birds - iowa state university

Iowa Association of Naturalists

Iowa Winter Birds

Iowa Wildlife Series

Iowa Wildlife SeriesStudents need to be knowledgeable about and appreciate local wildlife in order to better understand thenatural environment. The Iowa Association of Naturalists has created this series of booklets to offer abasic understandable overview of Iowa wildlife. These booklets will assist educators in teaching studentsabout Iowa wildlife. The six booklets in this series are:

Iowa Mammals (IAN-601)Iowa Winter Birds (IAN-602)Iowa Nesting Birds (IAN-603)Iowa Reptiles and Amphibians (IAN-604)Iowa Fish (IAN-605)Iowa Insects and Other Invertebrates (IAN-606)

Editorial BoardText: Dan CohenIllustrations: Mark MüllerDesign and Layout: Dan Cohen, Writing and Publications ServicesPublished by: Iowa Association of Naturalists

The Iowa Wildlife Series is publishedby the Iowa Association of Naturalistswith major funding from the REAPConservation Education Board and theIowa Conservation Education Council(September 1998).

Review CommitteeCele Burnett, Consultant, E Resources Group, Inc.Dan Cohen, Naturalist, Buchanan County Conservation BoardDetra Dettmann-Easler, Camp and Program Director, Louisa County Conservation BoardJean Eells, Consultant, E Resources Group, Inc.Judy Levings, State 4-H Youth Development Specialist, Iowa State UniversityJim Pease, Extension Wildlife Specialist, Iowa State UniversityDiane Pixler, Naturalist, Marshall County Conservation BoardA. Jay Winter, Training Officer, Iowa Department of Natural Resources

The Iowa Association of Naturalists (IAN) is a nonprofit organization ofpeople interested in promoting the development of skills and educationwithin the art of interpreting the natural and cultural environment. IANwas founded in 1978 and may be contacted by writing the ConservationEducation Center, 2473 160th Rd., Guthrie Center, IA 50115, 515/747-8383.



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Iowa Winter BirdsBirds in winter

“Birds, not rooted to the earth, are among

the most eloquent expressions of life.”

Roger Tory Petersen

t’s 7 a.m. on a January morningThe outdoor thermometerreads zero. Gusty winds make

the kitchen window creak andwhine. Outside the window, wispsof snow float ghost-like over theground and form a haze surroundingthe rising sun. The small evergreenplanting is blanketed on one side bythe windblown snow. Steam risesoff a heated pan of water placed inthe center of the arc of evergreensentries. Birdfeeders of numerousdesigns and sizes dangle motionless,blocked from the wind by the treesand house.

Here they come. The first is a bright patch of redwhich lights up a black sunflower feeder. Nextcomes a small bird sporting a black cap and bib.Another swoops down and clings to the undersideof a suet feeder. Others arrive, dancing aroundthe birdbath and fluttering around the feeders andtree branches. What moments ago was a lifeless

I


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landscape of cold and snow suddenly has beentransformed into a lively and theatrical morningdisplay of life in winter. Birds are one of winter’sgreatest attractions.

Winter residency

As winter arrives in Iowa, many wild animalsdepart or hibernate. Birds which feed onnon-dormant insects and worms or need openwater migrate as the food disappears and thewater freezes. But many birds, especially thosethat feed on seeds or dormant insects, remain inIowa. Covered with great feathery insulation andequipped with a high metabolism that burns like asmall furnace, these species are able to endureIowa’s sometimes brutal winters. They existwherever there is accessible food, adequate shelter,and a ready source of water. Where theserequirements are met, birds are often the mostvisible and animated spectacles of winter.

Keeping warm and fed

Birds have many special adaptations for survivalthroughout the year. The most importantadaptations for birds in winter are those thatallow them to stay warm and obtain food.

Birds are defined as animals with feathers. Thesefeathers are key to a bird’s survival in winter.Great feathery insulation keeps birds warm as themercury sinks below zero degrees. The mostefficient insulating feathers are the small fluffyfeathers, called down, that grow close to the bird’sbody. The visible contour feathers cover most ofthe down, determine much of the outward


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Contour feather

Down feather

appearance of the bird, and assist in the bird’sability to shut out the wind and repel water. Thecontour feathers also provide the bird’s identifyingcolors. A variety of specialized contour feathers,including various wing and body feathers eachwith its own name, are important identifyingcharacteristics used by experienced birdwatchers.These characteristics sometimes differ amongjuveniles, males, or females of the same species.Many birds molt prior to the beginning of winter,losing and replacing many of their contourfeathers. In some cases, birds change colorand look very different after molting.Goldfinches are brilliant yellow andblack in summer and less conspicuousolive-green in winter. These changessometimes confuse bird watcherstrying to identify birds in winter.

Food is a constant necessity for birds inwinter. Although feathers provide greatinsulation, food fuels a bird’s metabolic furnace toproduce heat and energy. Birds have a highmetabolism that allows them to be very active andproduce body heat. But this high metabolismrequires a lot of food. For their weight, birdsrequire more food than any other vertebrate exceptshrews. In general, the smaller the bird, the morefrequently it must eat to keep warm and active.Chickadees and nuthatches, for example, must eatalmost constantly in winter in order to survive.Some birds store their food. Blue jays store acorns,hazelnuts, and other foods almost everywhere. Itis common to see nuthatches, titmice, woodpeckers,and other birds fly off with bits of suet or seedsfrom a birdfeeder and tuck them in the crotchesand crevices of branches and bark. Often thisstored food is raided by marauding chickadees,brown creepers, and other birds searching for food.


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A predatory bird knownfor storing its food is thenorthern shrike. Thisrobin-sized bird feeds oninsects, mice, and smallbirds which it oftenimpales on thorns or thebarbs of fences or stuffsin the crotches of shrub

and tree branches. Shrikes may return up to eightmonths later to feed on the dried corpses.

Culinary tools

Birds use a variety of specialized tools to obtainfood. They generally use fantastic eyesight to findfood while perched or high in flight. Owls listenfor the movement of mice and other prey, usingtheir excellent hearing to locate food on darkwoodland nights. Although most birds have a poorsense of smell, turkey vultures are an exception,using their fine olfactory sense while searching forrotting carcasses. In addition to these importantsenses, birds have wonderfully adapted feet andbeaks that allow them to obtain and eat their food.

Feet help feed a bird by allowing it to move alongthe ground; perch on branches, stems of flowers,and twigs; climb along bark and branches; orsnatch and kill prey. Most birds belong to thegroup of birds called passerines that have three

toes pointing forward and one pointingbackward. The rear toe is usually long and

strong and important forkeeping a bird on its perch.Some birds, such aschickadees and nuthatches,have long, curved toes that

Passerine birds have threetoes pointing forward andone pointing backwards.


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allow them to grab important footholds on theundersides of branches and feeders. Woodpeckershave two toes facing forward and two facingbackward, although the backward toes can beswung forward while climbing.Woodpeckers, brown creepers, nuthatches,and other birds which climb vertically ontrees use their stiff tail feathers to propthemselves against tree trunks or branches.Turkeys, pheasants, and other ground-feedingbirds spend much of their time walking andscratching through the snow for food. Their strongfeet have a shorter rear toe that allows them to runalong the ground more effectively.

Birds of prey have sharp claws called talons usedto capture and kill their prey. The strong talonsof hawks, owls, and eagles can closewith tremendous force, instantlysnatching their food and piercing itwith razor-sharp nails.

Winter birds have tough,temperature-resistent feet. Thefeet have little circulation andnerve endings and no soft muscle, only toughtendons. The mourning dove is a rare exception.Historically not a common winter resident in Iowa,mourning doves have expanded their winter rangeacross Iowa and suffer greatly from frostbit andlost toes during the winter.

A bird’s beak is adapted to the food it eats.Finches have conical beaks superbly designed forcracking open seeds. Goldfinches and pine siskinseat the softer-shelled seeds of thistles and otherflowers. Grosbeaks can crack through the hardestshells and can even split open cherry pits.Woodpeckers have beaks and skulls that work like

Birds of preyhave sharp clawscalled talons.

Woodpeckers have twotoes facing forward andtwo facing backward.


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tiny jackhammers to probe and dig deep into thewood of trees while searching for dormant

insects. The northern flicker also uses itstongue to lick up ants and other insectsfrom their hiding places. Pheasants,turkeys, and other ground-feeders havebeaks that can eat a variety of nuts,grains, and insects. Pointed, hookedbeaks allow birds of prey to rip throughmeat and skin. Usually the beak is not

the weapon of the kill but only a tool foreating. An exception is the peregrine

falcon which knocks its prey from the airwith fisted talons and, using a special notched

beak, surgically snaps the neck vertebrae of itsdowned victim.

Birds that remain in Iowa throughoutwinter are those which can eat availableseeds, dormant insects, and smaller birds

and mammals. They include a variety of smallsongbirds and woodpeckers, jays and crows,upland game birds, and birds of prey. They alsoinclude some non-native birds introduced fromEurope.

It is difficult to categorize some bird species aswinter birds. Some are not consistent winterers.For example, longspurs migrate south throughIowa and, in some years, remain throughoutwinter. In other years, however, longspurs justkeep moving south. Some Iowa nesting birdsnormally considered to winter in the south, suchas robins, occasionally remain in Iowa all winter.

Iowa’s winter birds


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Ducks, geese, herons, and other water birds maytake up winter residence below river dams or inother areas of open water.

Songbirds and woodpeckers

Some very small birds have a large capacity forsurvival. When winter winds and deep snow drivemost larger animals into hiding, tiny birds flutteraround tree branches, freeze-dried flower heads,and backyard birdfeeders. They are seeneverywhere - in natural areas, roadsides, weedypatches, and towns. The birds constantly feed,stoking their tiny internal furnaces to counter thecold wind. Because they must continually eatduring the day, small birds such aschickadees, nuthatches, finches,sparrows, and woodpeckers are easy toattract to birdfeeders.

Jays and crows are large, vocalbirds that live year-round inIowa and are very visible duringthe winter months. Both havereputations for being very aggressive andpicking fights with other birds. Atbirdfeeders, they may knock food from platformfeeders and may chase off other birds. However,if there are several feeders, there is usually roomfor all. Crows are famous for mobbing andfollowing hawks and owls with their cawingresonating through the cold air.

Twenty common Iowa winter songbirds andwoodpeckers are listed here. Refer to a field guidefor more detailed lists, descriptions, ranges, andbehaviors.


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Common Iowa songbirds and woodpeckers

Species Characteristics ResidencyNorthern cardinal Males are bright red with crested head feathers year-round

and a black bib surrounding the thick beak. Femalesare olive-brown. Length: 7.5”

Cedar waxwing A yellow-brown bird with a prominent black mask year-roundand bib and a yellow band on the end of the tail.Males have crested head feathers anddabs of red on the wing tips. Length: 6”

Blue jay A larger songbird with a blue head and back year-roundand white breast. The call of the blue jay is a loudpiercing “jaaaaaaaay,” sometimes confused with thescreech of a red-tailed hawk. Length: 10”

Purple finch Males are raspberry-red, especially near the head, winterwith brown wings. Distinguished from housefinches by the absence of streaks on the breast.Length: 5.5”

American goldfinch Males are bright yellow in summer and olive-colored year-roundin winter. Both sexes have black wings with whiteside-bars throughout the year. Length: 4”

Pine siskin A heavily-streaked brown and white bird with year-roundpatches of yellow on the wings and near the tail.Flight and behavior is similar to the goldfinch.Length: 4”

Black-capped A small gray-white bird with a black head and year-roundchickadee bib and a small black beak. Climbs vertically on

tree trunks and branches. Length: 4.5”

Tufted titmouse A small gray bird with crested head feathers and year-roundlarge black eyes. Length: 5.5”

White-breasted A small gray bird with a black cap and white year-roundnuthatch neck and breast. Red-breasted nuthatches are less

common. Climbs vertically and along undersidesof branches. Length: 5”

Brown creeper A brown and white bird so greatly resembling winterthe shading of tree bark that it is nearly invisiblewhen climbing on tree trunks. It has a sharp,slightly curved beak. Length: 5”

Dark-eyedjunco

Tuftedtitmouse


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Common Iowa songbirds and woodpeckers continued

Species Characteristics ResidencyHouse finch Similar in appearance to the purple finch but has year-round

streaks on the sides of the breast and less redthroughout the body. Length: 6”

Dark-eyed junco A slate-gray bird with a white breast and black wintereye. Often feeds on the ground. Length: 5”

American tree A rusty-capped sparrow with a prominent black year-roundsparrow mark on the breast. Length: 5.5”

Downy and hairy Black and white woodpeckers with all white breasts year-roundwoodpeckers and black eye stripes. The males have a red patch

on the back of the head. Hairies are larger(length: 7.5”) than the more common downies(length: 5.5”).

Red-headed A brightly-colored bird with an all-red head, white year-roundwoodpecker breast, and black and white wings. Length: 7.5”

Red-bellied A medium-sized woodpecker with black and white year-roundwoodpecker barring on the wings and back and red feathers

on top of the head and neck. Length: 8.5”

American crow A large, vocal black bird with a large black beak. year-roundIn winter, crows often are seen flying androosting in flocks. Length: 17”

Mourning dove A slim gray and brown dove, more lightly colored year-roundnear the head. The tail is long and tapered and showswhite edges when the bird is flying. Length: 10.5”

House (English) A non-native bird which is actually a European year-roundsparrow (non-native) finch. The male is easily identified by its black bib.

Females resemble native sparrows. Length: 5”

European starling A dark-colored, non-native bird with white speckles year-round(non-native) covering the breast, a long thin bill, and a

jilting walk. Length: 6”

Mourningdove

Red-belliedwoodpecker


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Iowa game birds

Upland game birds

Turkey, grouse, quail, partridge,and pheasant are strong-leggedbirds capable of running and flying.They are often sought by Iowa hunters.Grouse and turkeys are more commonin woodlands, while quail, partridge, andpheasants are more commonly found in grassy orshrubby areas. The wild turkey is a reintroducedspecies that vanished from the state due toover-hunting by pioneer settlers and early markethunters. After several failed attempts at restoringturkey populations in Iowa, wild turkeys weresuccessfully reintroduced in the 1970s.Ring-necked pheasants are non-native birds whichwere released at the turn of the century. Today,pheasants are the most popular game bird in Iowa.Common Iowa game birds are listed here. Refer toa field guide for more detailed lists, descriptions,ranges, and behaviors.

Species Characteristics ResidencyWild turkey A large dark bird with a dark, metallic brown year-round

body and a naked head. Distinctive beard feathersare found on the breast of males and occasionallyon females. Length: 34”

Ring-necked Males are especially colorful with a dark head, year-roundpheasant white neck-ring, and prominent red eye patch.(non-native) The body may have various colors of brown, red,

and gold. Females are mottled brown. Both sexeshave long pointed tails. Length: 27”

Northern bobwhite A short, stocky bird with a short tail. Males have year-rounda bright white throat and eye line. The body ismottled with brown and white. Length: 8”

Gray partridge A gray bird with a rusty fan-shaped tail. Gray year-roundpartridge are slightly larger than bobwhitesand often are found in flocks. Length: 10”

Ruffed grouse Uncommon except in northeast Iowa. Ruffed year-roundgrouse are brown birds with white breasts anddistinctive broad tails with a black tail band.Males produce a drumming sound by beatingtheir wings. Length: 14”

Ruffedgrouse

Northernbobwhite


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Iowa birds of prey

Hawks, falcons, owls, andeagles are birds which huntother animals. They are

easily identified by theirsharp talons and sharp,hooked beaks. Hawks

are the most common birdsof prey and are divided into two

groups. Accipiters are hawks withlong tails and short wings that are more commonin wooded areas. Buteos are hawks that soar withlarge, broad wings and broad, fanned tails. Thelargest buteos are the eagles. Once rare in Iowa,bald eagles are now commonly seen during thewinter, especially below dams or other areas ofopen water where they search for fish and otherfood. Golden eagles are rarely seen in Iowa.

Falcons are birds of prey with long,pointed wings and tails. They are fast,powerful fliers. The fastest bird of preyis the peregrine falcon which has beenclocked diving at speeds faster than200 miles per hour. Although veryrare in Iowa, recentreintroduction attemptshave been somewhatsuccessful. Peregrinesare migratory birds andnormally are not seen in Iowaduring the winter.

Common birds of prey foundyear-round in Iowa and especiallyduring the winter are listed here.Refer to a field guide for more detailed lists,descriptions, ranges, and behaviors.

American kestrel

Screechowl


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Iowa birds of prey

OwlsSpecies Characteristics ResidencyEastern screech owl A small rusty brown or gray owl with feather year-round

tufts or “horns.” Song is a wavery trill. Length: 8.5”

Barred owl A medium to large owl with distinctive brown bars year-roundon the breast, no feather tufts, and dark eyes. Songis a raucous hooting sometimes sounded phoneticallyas “Who cooks for you?” Length: 17”

Great horned owl A large owl with feather tufts and fine horizontal year-roundbarring on the breast. Colors may vary but mostare brown. Call is a series of low muffled hoots.Length: 20”

Hawks and eaglesRed-tailed hawk A common buteo of fields and woodland edges. year-round

Varies in color but adults have a distinctive redtail. Wingspan: 48”

Rough-legged hawk A buteo with a distinctive black tail band and year-roundwing tips. Similar in size to a red-tailed hawk butis more commonly seen hovering. Wingspan: 50”

Sharp-shinned hawk A small accipiter with a mottled breast and a year-roundnarrow square-cut tail with distinct black stripes.The less common and larger Cooper’s hawk issimilar but has a more rounded tail. Wingspan: 21”

Bald eagle A large, dark bird that often is seen soaring with year-roundflat outstretched wings. Adults attain theirdistinctive white head and tail feathers when theyare approximately five years old. Juveniles are alldark and at a distance sometimes are confused withturkey vultures which are about the same size butfly with their wings bent back in a “V”and have a smaller head. Wingspan: 80”

FalconsAmerican kestrel A small, colorful, blue-gray bird with a rusty back, year-round

white cheeks, and black “whisker” stripes.Common along roadsides. Wingspan: 21”

Barred owl

Sharp-shinnedhawk


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Attracting winter birds

“How can you expect the birds to sing

when their groves are cut down?”

Henry David Thoreau

Winter birds have the same generalhabitat needs as all wildlife. They areconstantly in search of adequate

supplies of the right types of food; availablestructure and materials that provide shelter fromthe weather and predators; accessible andadequate supplies of water; and enough space tofind these necessary resources without exposingthemselves to danger. By creating shelteredfeeding and watering stations, people can providebasic bird habitat requirements and bring theexciting and lively spectacle of winter birds to theirbackyards.

Why feed birds?

Birds depend on constant sources of food to helpthem stay warm and active throughout winter.Therefore, they are relatively easy toattract to properly-filled and maintainedbirdfeeders. Millions of people acrossthe United States feed birds. There aretwo main reasons why these peoplespend their time and moneyproviding food for birds. They wantto help birds find food and survive,especially during winter, and theywant to attract birds to areas wherethey can see and enjoy them up close.


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Some individual birds do benefit from backyardbirdfeeders. In harsh winters, more chickadees,titmice, and other small birds may survive due toproperly-placed and maintained feeders. As awhole, however, birdfeeders do not determine thesurvival of a bird species. Birds that visit yourbackyard habitat likely have been coming to thattype of habitat for thousands of years and havebeen able to survive severe winters, droughts,floods, and other natural disasters without humanhelp. And many bird species do not visitbirdfeeders. Habitat loss affects speciespopulations to a far greater extent than would the

loss of birdfeeders. Even where feeders exist,birds rely on a variety of food sources in theirhabitat. If birds were to become overlydependent on food from a feeder, however,

there would be a real danger once the feederran empty or was removed.

Most people who feed birds in winter do so forenjoyment. They like to see animated life in thedead of winter. They are interested in thechallenge of attracting as many bird species aspossible. They may count the number and speciesof birds, making note of their special behaviors andhabits. The number of bird species in a particularbackyard varies depending on the habitat beingprovided. But even an average backyard is likelyto be visited on a regular basis by 10 to 20 speciesof birds.

Birdfeeders are a great introduction to the world ofbirds. There is a lot to learn about bird behaviorby watching birds at a feeder or in the wild.Birdfeeding is a national pastime which hasbecome economically important. Nationally, wespend $2.7 billion annually on birdseed and $831million on feeders, birdbaths, and birdhouses.

White-breastednuthatches arecommon visitors towinter birdfeeders.


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Food for thought

Different species of birds have differentrequirements for food. People provide the righttypes of food at their birdfeeders by mimicking thewild foods birds eat. Wild foods available to birdsduring the winter include dry seeds and nuts,insect larvae and eggs, and live and dead animals.These are the important groceries for which thebirds are shopping.

A variety of birds, especially those that normallyeat insect larvae or small animals, are attracted tosuet feeders or meal worms placed on a platformfeeder. Suet is beef fat that can be obtained from agrocery store meat counter or purchased as suetcakes at stores that sell bird food. Meal wormsmay be purchased from bait stores to provide aspecial treat for birds. Suet and worms offer birdshigh-energy, high-fat foods perfect for a winterdiet.

The greatest variety of winter birds areseed-eaters, and birdseed is the most common foodused in winter birdfeeders. Stores that sell birdfeed carry a variety of seeds, the most commonbeing black and striped sunflower, safflower, nigerthistle, and millet. Peanuts, acorns, cracked corn,and other foods also are used to feed birds.Different species of birds prefer different types ofseeds, and a variety of seeds and feeders willattract the greatest variety of birds. If only onebirdfeeder is available, fill it with black sunflowerseed. Black sunflower is an inexpensive food thatis preferred by the greatest number of bird species.Some stores feature commercial birdfeed mixes.Consumers should look carefully at these mixes forthe presence of fillers that birds will not eat. Onecommon filler is red millet, a cheap seed whichbirds do not like to eat. Some basic seedpreferences for winter birds are listed here.


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Quail and pheasant • • √

Mourning dove √ • √

Red-bellied woodpecker • • √

Downy woodpecker • √

Hairy woodpecker • √

Blue jay √ √ √

Black-capped chickadee √ √

Tufted titmouse √ • √ •

White-breasted nuthatch √ • • √

European starling √ • √

Northern cardinal √ √

American tree sparrow √ √ •

Dark-eyed junco • √ • •

Purple finch √ • √

House finch √ • √

Pine siskin √ • √

American goldfinch √ √

House sparrow √ √ •

Bla

ck o

il su

nflo

wer

Str

iped

sun

flow

er

Saf

flow

er

Whi

te m

illet

Nig

er th

istle

Cra

cked

cor

n

Pea

nuts

Sue

t and

mea

l wor

ms

Birdfeed preferences of common winter birds

√ = most preferred • = somewhat preferred


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Birdfeeders

There are many feeders to choose from whenlooking for the best way to present food to birds.The five basic feeder designs include hangingthistle feeders, hanging sunflower feeders, peanutfeeders, tray or platform feeders, and suet feeders.Each of these feeders is designed to offer specifictypes of food to specific types of birds. A goodfeeder should allow easy access to birds, protectfood from moisture, and prevent seed from beingblown, kicked, or washed out of the feeder.

Hanging thistle feeders and sunflower feedersare long, cylindrical feeders with holes largeenough to allow seeds to be available to birdswithout the seeds spilling out of the feeder. Thistlefeeders have very small holes, while sunflowerfeeders have holes a quarter-inch or larger toaccommodate black or striped sunflower, hulledsunflower, and safflower seeds. The feeders hangfrom a tree, post, or eaves, and birds perch onsmall pegs below each hole. Some birds such asstarlings may be discouraged by the movement of ahanging feeder.

Peanut feeders may be hung or attached to a treetrunk or post. Shelled or unshelled peanuts aredistributed through a wire mesh.

Platform and hopper feeders usually arestationary feeders placed on the ground, a ledge,post, or level surface. Seeds are poured directlyonto a platform tray or are poured into a hopperwhich serves as a reservoir that feeds the seedsinto the tray. Usually the hopper is enclosed andkeeps the seed dry and safe from other animals. Aplatform feeder may be filled with a variety ofseeds. Wire hardware cloth or a plastic mesh overthe seed tray helps keep seeds from being kickedout by birds or squirrels.


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Suet feeders are often as simple as an onion sackfull of suet hanging from a tree branch.Woodpeckers, nuthatches, and other suet eatersare capable of hanging upside down and on thesides of plastic mesh or metal hardware cloth.Commercial suet feeders may be made of moredurable plastic or metal cages designed to holdstore-bought suet cakes.

There are many inexpensive ways to make yourown birdfeeders. Feeding birds may be as simpleas throwing leftover bread crumbs onto the snowor decorating a snowman withraisins, peanuts, and sunflowerseeds. Five easy ideas formaking your own birdfeedersare described here.

• Smear apeanut butterand cornmealmixture ormelted suet on apine cone andthen roll thepine cone in atray of birdseed. Attach astring to thepine cone andhang it in anaccessible place.

• Drill holes into a section of a dead tree branch orlog. Fill the holes with suet or peanut butter.

• Cut four trianglesabove the bottomcorners of ahalf-gallon milkcarton. Poke sticksthrough the bottom to provide perches.

• Transform a plastic two-literpop bottle into a hanging thistleor sunflower feeder. Cut thedesired sized holes and pokesticks through the bottle toprovide perches below each hole.

• Decorate for the holidays bystringing peanuts and popcorn onknotted string.


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Water

Water is a basic habitat requirement for all birdswhich is often lacking in the frozen winterlandscape. Dripping water, running water,steaming water, and water reflections attractbirds like magnets. People can providebirds with water by creating birdbathsor fountains. It may be as simple asfilling a pan of water daily. A varietyof more elaborate heated birdbaths canbe purchased at birdfeeder stores.Birds are more likely to use abirdbath that is close to shelter andperches and is kept clean and freeof ice.

Shelter and landscaping

Birds search for places with the types of plantsthat provide them with food and shelter. Theseplants differ for different species of birds. Forexample, woodpeckers generally are attracted toareas with larger trees and shrubs, whilegoldfinches need shrubs and grasslands. Cedarwaxwings and grosbeaks eat berries on small trees,shrubs, and vines, while chickadees andnuthatches probe along the bark of trees andshrubs for insect larvae. A variety of trees, shrubs,vines, and wildflowers attract the greatest varietyof birds.

When landscaping a yard to attract birds and otherwildlife, consider the types of food and shelter theplants will provide. Evergreens such as red cedarand white pine provide leafy shelter year-round.Dogwoods, hawthorns, and crabapples providebirds with fruit through fall and into winter. Driedseed heads of sunflowers, thistles, and otherflowers are natural birdfeeders. More completelists of plants and the birds they attract are


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available from the Iowa Department of NaturalResources, your local county conservation board,and county extension office. See the UsefulResources section at the end of this booklet.

Unwanted guests

Birds are not the only wildlife looking for foodduring winter. Many people enjoy attracting andfeeding other wildlife such as squirrels and deer.However, sometimes these animals can becomeunwanted guests.

Squirrels have an especially badreputation for being unwelcome dinnerguests at a birdfeeder station. They arepersistent in their attempts to raid anyfeeder to which they can gain access.Squirrels may chew through plastic andwood feeders, empty platform feeders byeating and clawing out the seeds, and

scare birds off the feeder perches. A hostof products have been designed to keep squirrelsoff feeders, but none are effective in all situations.Squirrel baffles are smooth, round barrierswhich squirrels cannot climb on or over. They aredesigned to keep squirrels from climbing down thewire of a hanging feeder or up the pole of amounted feeder. Some tray feeders have aplatform that can support the light weight ofperched birds but will tip down under the weightof a squirrel. Sometimes squirrels can be partiallylured away by providing corn or other inexpensivefoods on the ground separate from the birdfeedingarea.

Some guests at a birdfeeder station are notinterested in the seed as much as the birds thatare eating the seed. House cats and sharp-shinnedhawks are the two most common predatorsattracted to birdfeeders. Feeders and birdbaths


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are less likely to be “cat feeders” if they areelevated off the ground. And birds find safetyfrom hawks when there is plenty of shelterprovided by nearby trees and shrubs. When ahawk appears, the birds can quickly takecover until the hawk leaves.

Certain songbirds may be unwanted guests.Some non-native birds, such as house(English) sparrows and European starlings,use the same types of tree cavities sought bynesting bluebirds, tree swallows, and other nativebirds. In spring, they often arrive in an area ingreat numbers and quickly inhabit the availablenesting sites. House sparrows also arrive at winterfeeders in great numbers. House sparrows can befed inexpensive cracked corn away from the feederswhere native birds are preferred. Platform andground feeders are more likely to be overrun bysparrows and squirrels than will hanging feeders.And starlings are unlikely to stay at any feederwhich is free-moving.

All native birds are protected by Iowa law.With the exception of game birds, it isillegal to kill birds for sport or food. It also

is illegal to keep eggs, nests, or feathers from birdsor to keep them as pets. All native nongame birdsare protected by state and federal laws. However,special permits may be obtained by certainagencies and organizations, including schools and

Bird protection

“To band a bird is to hold a ticket in a great lottery.”

Aldo Leopold

European starlings oftenare considered unwantedguests at birdfeeders.


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nature centers, to collect salvaged feathers andnests and birds killed in accidents. The mostcommon state permits issued to schools and naturecenters are educational project permits, wildlifesalvage permits, and wildlife rehabilitationpermits. An educational project permit allowsthe permittee to possess certain types andnumbers of live animals for educational purposes.A wildlife salvage permit allows permittees tosalvage birds and other animals which have diedfrom accidents or natural causes for educationalpurposes. Some nature centers have wildliferehabilitation permits that allow them to carefor and release injured wildlife, including hawks,owls, and other birds. In addition to these statepermits, federal permits are required for allmigratory birds. This includes all birds excepthouse sparrows, starlings, upland game birds, andpigeons.

Keeping an eye out for the birds

People have a fascination with birds. Whether atour feeders, darting among bushes and trees,creeping around tree trunks, or probing our lawns,birds are an important part of our lives. Manypeople across the state identify themselves asbirdwatchers. Some belong to groups such as theNational Audubon Society or Iowa Ornithologists’Union. Many others enjoy birds on their own, intheir own backyards, and in nearby wildlife areas.

There is much to be learned by watching birds.Bird banding is a method used by some birdwatchers to determine the status of individualbirds. Birds are caught in long nets and quicklycollected. Their age, weight, and other information

Banded white-breasted nuthatch


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are recorded. A lightweight, coded metal braceletis carefully placed around a leg of each bird beforeit is released. By keeping careful record of birdscaught and re-caught, both professional andamateur ornithologists learn a lot about birds.

Amateur bird watchers also are involved involuntary bird surveys. Spring breeding birdsurveys are conducted annually through the IowaDepartment of Natural Resources WildlifeDiversity Program. The National Audubon Societysponsors annual Christmas bird counts. And theIowa Ornithologists’ Union coordinates winterbirdfeeder surveys in January. Individuals andclasses can join in the survey by contactingthe organizations and requesting surveyforms.

Keep an eye open for birds. Watchtheir behavior. What are theydoing? What are they eating?How do they move around andfind their food and water?What plants do they seem tolike the best? How manyand what types of birds doyou see? There are morethan 9,000 species of birdson Earth. Four hundredspecies have been sighted inIowa. How many speciesare left for you to discover?


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An Illustrated Guide to Attracting Birds; Susan Warton, editor; Sunset Publishing Corporation,Menlo Park, CA; 1994.

The Audubon Society Encyclopedia of North American Birds; John K. Terres; Alfred A. Knopf,Inc., New York, NY; 1980.

The Birdfeeder Book; Donald and Lillian Stokes; Little, Brown and Company, Boston, MA; 1987.Birds At My Feeder; Bobbie Kalman and Glen Loates; Crabtree Publishing Co., New York, NY; 1987.Birds In Iowa; Thomas H. Kent and James J. Dinsmore; privately published, Ames, IA; 1996.Birds of the Backyard; Video narrated by George Harrison; Company for Home Entertainment,

Suffield, CT; 1989.Birds of North America; Robbins, Bruun, Zim, and Singer; Golden Press, New York, NY; 1966.Birdwatching; Bob Hume; Random House, Inc., New York, NY; 1993.Feeding Wild Birds In Winter; Clive Dobson; Firefly Books, Ltd., Ontario, Canada; 1981.IAN Booklet Series; Iowa Association of Naturalists; ISU Extension Service, Ames, IA.

Iowa’s Nesting Birds (IAN-606); Iowa Wildlife Series; 1998.Keeping Iowa Wildlife Wild (IAN-402); Iowa Wildlife and People Series; 1996.Iowa Biodiversity (IAN-407); Iowa Wildlife and People Series; 1996.Adapting To Iowa (IAN-408); Iowa Wildlife and People Series; 1996.Iowa Woodlands (IAN-202); Iowa’s Biological Communities Series; 1993.Iowa Prairies (IAN-203); Iowa’s Biological Communities Series; 1993.Iowa Wetlands (IAN-204); Iowa’s Biological Communities Series; 1993.Iowa Waterways (IAN-205); Iowa’s Biological Communities Series; 1993.Iowa Habitat Loss and Disappearing Wildlife (IAN-101); Iowa Environmental

Issues Series; 1998.The Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas; Laura Spess Jackson, Carol A. Thompson, James J. Dinsmore,

Bruce L. Ehresman. John Fleckenstein, Robert Cecil, Lisa M. Hemesath, and Stephen J.Dinsmore; University of Iowa Press, Iowa City, IA; 1996.

Landscaping For Wildlife; Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; Minnesota’s Bookstore, St.Paul, MN; 1987; 1-800-657-3757.

North American Birdfeeder Handbook; Robert Burton; Dorling Kindersley Publishing, Inc.,New York, NY; 1992.

A Teacher’s Activity Booklet About...Iowa Birds; Linda R.F. Zaletel; Iowa Ornithologists’ Unionand Iowa Conservation Education Council, Ames, IA; 1997.

Woodworking For Wildlife; Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; Minnesota’s Bookstore,St. Paul, MN; 1992; 1-800-657-3757.

Useful resources

Iowa Winter Birds is one in a series of six booklets that are part of the Iowa Wildlife Series. Thebooklets in the series include:

Iowa Wildlife SeriesIowa Mammals (IAN-601)Iowa Winter Birds (IAN-602)Iowa Nesting Birds (IAN-603)Iowa Reptiles and Amphibians (IAN-604)Iowa Fish (IAN-605)Iowa Insects and Other Invertebrates (IAN-606)

The Iowa Association of Naturalists also has produced five other booklet series that provide readerswith a clear, understandable overview of topics concerning the Iowa environment and conservation. Thebooklets included in each of the other five series are listed below.

Iowa’s Natural Resource HeritageChanging Land Use and Values (IAN 501)Famous Iowa Conservationists (IAN 502)Iowa’s Environmental Laws (IAN 503)

Iowa Wildlife and PeopleIowa Wildlife Management (IAN-401)Keeping Iowa Wildlife Wild (IAN-402)Misconceptions About Iowa Wildlife (IAN-403)State Symbols of Iowa (IAN-404)Iowa Food Webs and Other Interrelationships (IAN-405)Natural Cycles In Iowa (IAN-406)Iowa Biodiversity (IAN-407)Adapting To Iowa (IAN-408)

Iowa PlantsIowa’s Spring Wildflowers (IAN-301)Iowa’s Summer and Fall Wildflowers (IAN-302)Benefits and Dangers of Iowa Plants (IAN-303)Iowa’s Trees (IAN-304)Seeds, Nuts, and Fruits of Iowa Plants (IAN-305)Iowa’s Mushrooms and Other Nonflowering Plants (IAN-306)Iowa’s Shrubs and Vines (IAN-307)

Iowa’s Biological CommunitiesIowa’s Biological Communities (IAN-201)Iowa Woodlands (IAN-202)Iowa Prairies (IAN-203)Iowa Wetlands (IAN-204)Iowa Waterways (IAN-205)

Iowa Environmental IssuesIowa Habitat Loss and Disappearing Wildlife (IAN-101)Iowa Air Pollution (IAN-102)Iowa Water Pollution (IAN-103)Iowa Agricultural Practices and the Environment (IAN-104)People, Communities, and Their Iowa Environment (IAN-105)Energy In Iowa (IAN-106)Iowa Waste Management (IAN-107)

√ Booklets may be orderedthrough the Iowa State

University Extension Service ata cost of $1.00 per booklet.When ordering, be sure to usethe IAN number to the right ofeach listed booklet title.Please send written orders andpayment to:

ISU Extension ServicePrinting and Publications BuildingIowa State UniversityAmes, IA 50011

This publication is printedon recycled paper.

iowa winter birds - iowa state university

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