Winter is a time of transition to colder weather, and many birds respond by flying south to warmer areas with more abundant food. There are, however, a suite of birds that remain with us and fill our landscape with sound. The sounds are not the familiar, complex sounds of spring, but one syllable calls to communicate about food, territory, or predators.

The Song Sparrow does not migrate south, but instead remains to defend its winter territory with two or three individual birds. Winter territories are defended by these small groups who use a sharp ‘chip’ call to communicate with one another. The familiar song is not heard until spring, when warmer weather and longer days break the patterns of winter.

The more common resident birds that fill our winter landscape are the: Bewick’s and Pacific Wren, Chestnut-backed and Black-capped Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco, Spotted Towhee, and Song Sparrow.