Photo of Hawk Flying above Trees

Winter Birdwatching in Michigan: Cardinals, Squirrels, and Hawks in the Snow

If you live in Michigan, you know winter can get pretty brutal. We've had several days of cold weather and snow, and the wind has been downright bitter. But even when it's freezing outside, there's still plenty of wildlife to watch from the warmth of the house.

On Saturday, January 17, I spotted two hawks flying in front of our house. They were soaring high in the sky, swirling around and playing in the wind. It was pretty cool to watch them, although I had one other thing on my mind: the squirrels in our backyard!

Gray and Black Squirrel Eating Peanuts on a Stump

 

I had seven squirrels in the backyard eating peanuts, so I kept a close eye on those hawks. I wasn't sure what kind they were, but I could tell they were hawks. Thankfully, they stayed out front and never came down into the backyard.

A few days later, we got another four inches or so of snow. It was so cold that opening the door meant getting smacked in the face with a blast of icy wind. You wanted to close it again pretty quickly!

Photo of Hawk Flying on a Sunny Blue Day

The Birds Return to Our Winter Feeders

By January 21, the birds were back at the feeders, eating what was left from the day before. Even going outside briefly to refill the feeders made my hands hurt from the cold.

But I enjoy watching and photographing the birds, so of course, I planned to head back out and fill everything up again. I like knowing the feeders are stocked when the weather makes finding food more challenging for our backyard visitors.

Some familiar faces returned this week, including the red-breasted nuthatch. I love seeing that rusty-colored belly!

We also had our white-breasted nuthatch back. We call him Clarence because he always looks so proper. And then there are the chickadees. Those tiny birds are funny little things. One will sit in a tree, chirping away with its little “chip, chip” calls, almost as if it's reminding me that it's time to fill the feeders.

Red-Bellied Woodpecker sitting on a tree branch

I could also hear the red-bellied woodpecker calling from the trees. He seems to know when the peanuts are coming! He'll wait around for the blue jays to show up, and then he'll come in to get his share of the peanuts, too.

With temperatures so low, we've had a lot more activity around the feeders this week. It's amazing how much you can see just by keeping an eye on the backyard.

The Squirrels Are Busy, Too

The birds weren't the only ones making themselves at home. The squirrels have been very active, too.

I buy bags of peanuts for them and clear a little spot in the snow so they can get to the food more easily. I joke that they must be running out of options when everything is covered in snow. Surely they don't want to eat sticks all winter!

Two Black Squirrels Eating Peanuts on a Stump

 

Looking out the back window, I counted at least four squirrel nests, or dreys, up in the trees surrounding our yard. They certainly know where to come for a snack.

Watching the squirrels and birds has become one of those little pleasures of winter. Even when it's too cold to spend much time outside, there's always something happening just beyond the window.

The Northern Cardinals Bring the Drama

My favorite birds this week have been our northern cardinals, both the male and the female.

Their red and warm brown colors look beautiful against all that white snow, but their personalities have been even more entertaining than their appearance.

Male and Female Northern Cardinal During a Snow Storm

 

The cardinals have been especially feisty this week, particularly when the house sparrows show up.

I call the sparrows our ravenous little heathens. I love them, but sometimes they drive me crazy! They'll sit at the feeders as if they own the place and don't intend to share with anybody.

Well, one of those sparrows made the mistake of going after the female cardinal.

Mr. Man was having none of it.

He seemed to say, “Nope! You're not bothering my lady!” and went after the sparrow. The two had a little beak-to-beak argument before the sparrow finally flew away.

 

Female Cardinal Looks to the Male Northern Cardinal

After that little disagreement, everything settled down. The sparrow left, the male and female cardinals got to eat their seeds, and peace was restored at the feeders.

It's hard not to laugh at the personalities you see when you spend time watching backyard wildlife. You start recognizing familiar visitors and noticing their little habits, and even an ordinary winter day becomes more interesting.

What Birds Are Visiting Your Feeders This Winter?

Even with all the snow and freezing temperatures, our backyard has been busy with hawks, cardinals, nuthatches, chickadees, woodpeckers, blue jays, sparrows, and squirrels looking for food.

I may not enjoy the bitter cold, but I do enjoy having a front-row seat to all this activity. And you can bet I'll keep filling those feeders and watching for the next visitor.

What birds have you been seeing at your feeders this winter? Do you have a favorite, or have you witnessed any funny bird behavior lately? I'd love to hear about it in the comments!

You can also find us on YouTube as Life Between Homes. Thanks for spending a little time with us, and until next time, stay warm!