When the weather turns cold and food gets scarce, birds take one of two very different approaches — and which one depends on the species.
Migratory birds fly to warmer places
Many birds are migrants: they leave for warmer regions where food is still available, from the southern United States down to Central and South America, or from northern Europe toward the Mediterranean and Africa. Some travel only a few hundred miles; others, like certain shorebirds, cross entire oceans and continents.
Resident birds stay and adapt
Plenty of birds — such as many cardinals, chickadees, sparrows and pigeons — do not migrate at all. These resident birds tough out the winter by switching to seeds and berries, fluffing their feathers to trap warm air, sheltering from the wind, and huddling together for warmth on the coldest nights.
How you can help winter birds
Winter is when a garden feeder matters most. High-energy foods like seeds, suet and grains, along with a source of unfrozen water, can make a real difference to resident birds in hard weather. Keep feeders clean and topped up, since birds come to rely on a food source once they find it.