Winter Birds in Ohio (ID Guide)

Author: Tammy Poppie
Updated:
Reviewed by:
american robin perched on snowy branch in winter

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Winter Birds in Ohio (ID Guide)

Author: Tammy Poppie
Updated:
Reviewed by:
american robin perched on snowy branch in winter

This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you buy after clicking on our links.

The 25 most common winter birds in Ohio are revealed in this complete guide. While hundreds of birds make Ohio their home during this frigid season, the most common of them can be found right in your backyard.

Everything you need to identify the 25 most common Ohio winter backyard birds is in this article including photos for easy identification, their winter diet & habitat info, and range maps to determine if they’re likely to be found in your particular area.

I’ve been backyard birdwatching for more than 25 years and have seen many of the birds that visit Ohio in winter. While it’s not my favorite season (especially when the temps are below zero and the icy winds howl) I’m thankful I have the winter birds to look forward to. Somehow, winter birds make the season more bearable.

25 Most Common Winter Birds in Ohio

According to data derived from Feederwatch.org for the most recent full winter season (December 11, 2021, through March 4, 2022), the 25 most frequent Ohio backyard winter visitors are below. After the bird type is the percentage it was observed out of the 25 total birds. In other words, of 100 birds descended upon your chilly Ohio back yard, you could expect 7 northern cardinals, 5.9 red-bellied woodpeckers, 6.3 house finches, and so on.

  1. Northern Cardinal (7%)
  2. Downy Woodpecker (6.5%)
  3. House Finch (6.3%)
  4. Dark-eyed Junco (6.2%)
  5. Mourning Dove (6.2%)
  6. Blue Jay (6.1%)
  7. Red-bellied Woodpecker (5.9%)
  8. House Sparrow (5.9%)
  9. Tufted Titmouse (5.8%)
  10. White-breasted Nuthatch (5.4%)
  11. American Goldfinch (5.3%)
  12. European Starling (3.9%)
  13. Black-capped Chickadee (3.7%)
  14. American Robin (3.5%)
  15. Carolina Chickadee (3.1%)
  16. Carolina Wren (2.9%)
  17. Song Sparrow (2.8%)
  18. Hairy Woodpecker (2.7%)
  19. White-throated Sparrow (2.4%)
  20. Red-winged Blackbird (1.7%)
  21. American Crow (1.6%)
  22. Common Grackle (1.4%)
  23. Eastern Bluebird (1.4%)
  24. Red-breasted Nuthatch (1.3%)
  25. Northern Flicker (1.1%)

Identification Guide: Photos, Diet, Habitat & Range Maps

Without further delay, to follow is the identification guide which includes photos of each backyard bird, descriptions of their appearance in winter, their winter diet, habitat, and feeder food to attract them.

1. Northern Cardinal

male and female northern cardinals Ohio winter birds
Male and female cardinals. Photo by Patrice Bouchard on Unsplash

The #1 winter bird in Ohio is the northern cardinal. Pretty fitting since the cardinal is Ohio’s state bird!

Appearance: Male northern cardinals are medium-sized bright red birds about 8 1/2″ long with a black mask, red crown, orange beak, and black areas on wings and tail. The female cardinal also has an orange beak but is buff-brown with a tan crown + a tinge of red, red spots on the wings & tail.

Diet: In winter, northern cardinals primarily forage for small berries and seeds.

Feeder food: Northern cardinals are frequent feeder visitors and enjoy black oil sunflower seed, safflower seed, striped sunflower seed, hulled peanuts, and cracked corn.

Habitat: Northern cardinals remain in Ohio year-round birds. They prefer edges of wooded areas, thickets, tangled vines, city parks, and our backyards.

Range Map

Northern cardinal range map

2. Downy Woodpecker

Downy woodpecker Ohio winter bird
Downy woodpecker (male). Photo by Patrice Bouchard on Unsplash

Appearance: Downy woodpeckers are small birds 6″ – 7″ long. Males are tuxedo-black with a white stripe on the back, white belly, white outer tail feathers, some spotted areas of white on the wings, a yellow/tan spot above the beak, and the infamous red patch on his head at the back of the crown. Females are nearly identical without red coloring.

Diet: Fruit and berries that remain on the trees, shrubs, and vines.

Feeder food: Suet, peanut butter spread, Sunflower seeds, Safflower seeds, hulled peanuts, corn, fruits, nectar (sugar water).

Habitat: Downy woodpeckers spend all 12 months of the year in Ohio. They’re not afraid of the wintery conditions. This non-migrating woodpecker species can be found anywhere there are trees.

Range Map

Downy woodpecker range map

3. House Finch

male house finch Indiana winter bird
Male house finch. Image by Bryan Hanson from Pixabay
female house finch Ohio winter bird
Female house finch. Photo by Tammy Poppie.

Appearance: The house finch is a small bird about 5″ long, orange/red face, chest, and rump. Brown wings streaked with white. White belly with brown streaks. The Female and juvenile are brown with streaks of white.

Winter Diet: Seeds, fruit.

Winter Feeder Food: Black oil sunflower seed is their favorite.

Winter habitat: House finches are another of Ohio’s year-round backyard birds. They prefer to live around human dwellings (buildings, backyard trees, shrubs, and barns). Also are found in parks and other urban areas.

Range Map

House finch range map.

4. Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed junco Ohio winter bird
Dark-eyed junco. Photo by Lonnie Gilstrap.

Appearance: Dark-eyed juncos are tiny birds about 5.5″ – 6.5″ long. Males are dark gray with a white underside and pink bill. Females are the same except brownish gray.

Winter Diet: Seeds.

Winter Feeder Food: Nyjer, black-oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, cracked corn, hulled peanuts, and suet.

Winter habitat: Dark-eyed juncos only visit Ohio in wintertime. Clearly they’re fans of subzero temps. They enjoy a variety of habitats from thickly forested areas (both coniferous and deciduous) to wide-open spaces, partially wooded edges, parks, and especially backyards.

Range Map

Map of the dark-eyed junco range

5. Mourning Dove

mourning dove Ohio winter bird
Mourning dove. Image by Mike Goad from Pixabay

Appearance: A large bird about 12″ long smooth with fawn colors. Black spots on the wings and tail. A single black spot below and behind the eyes. Wide brown tail with white edges. Red-orange legs. Gray patch between head and back and iridescent colors around the neck. Large black eyes with light blue around the eyes. Pointy bill.

Winter diet: Seeds

Winter feeder food: Will come to eat seeds that drop below the feeder as they are ground foragers.

Winter habitat: Mourning doves spend all seasons in Ohio. They prefer open areas.

Range Map

Mourning dove range map.

6. Blue Jay

Blue jay Ohio winter bird
Blue jay. Photo by Cathy Cardone.

Appearance: Large bird 12″ long, medium blue & white body, blue crest (which he flattens at will), gray belly, and white face. White & blue wings with black spots. Females look the same.

Winter diet: Fruit and seeds that remain on the trees, shrubs, and vines as well as nuts.

Winter feeder food: Whole peanuts, sunflower seeds, and cracked corn.

Winter habitat: Blue jays remain in Ohio year-round showing no fear of freezing temps. They can be found in forested areas with mixed tree types but are also common in suburbs and urban areas.

Range Map

Blue jay range map

7. Red-Bellied Woodpecker

red-belied woodpecker Ohio winter bird
Red-bellied woodpecker. Photo by Mark Olsen on Unsplash

Appearance: The red-bellied woodpecker is a medium-sized backyard bird about 9 1/4″ long. They have a zebra-like striped back with a white rump. The red crown extends down the nape of the neck. The chest is tan with just a tinge of red on the belly. The females are the same except they don’t have a red crown.

Winter diet: Insects hibernate beneath the tree bark, nuts, and fruits that remain on fruit-bearing trees & shrubs.

Winter feeder food: Suet, hulled peanuts.

Winter habitat: Red-bellied woodpeckers make Ohio their year-round home as well as other eastern states. They prefer to be in or near forests and woodlands.

Range Map

Red-bellied woodpecker range map.

8. House Sparrow

Male house sparrow Ohio winter bird
Male house sparrow in winter plumage. Image by SAM_MINO from Pixabay

Winter appearance: House sparrows are small birds about 6″ long, brown with a large grayish-edged bib (in spring & summer the bib becomes a prominent black) and chin down to the chest. White wing bar and gray belly & crown. The Female is a bit smaller, all light brown and not black.

Winter diet: Seeds and fruit.

Winter feeder food: Black oil sunflower seed, cracked corn, peanut hearts, millet, and milo.

Winter habitat: House sparrows can be found in Ohio year-round. They’re found around people and buildings in the city, towns, villages, suburbs, and farms.

Range Map

House sparrow range map.

9. Tufted Titmouse

Tufted titmouse Ohio winter bird
Tufted titmouse. Image by Gregory Sabin from Pixabay

Appearance: The tufted titmouse is a small bird about 6″ long with slate gray above, white on its chest, belly, and around the eyes. Below the wings is a patch of rusty brown, the legs are gray and the eyes are dark. They have a pointed “tuft” crest.

Winter diet: Seeds and fruits left on the branches & vines.

Winter feeder food: Suet.

Winter habitat: Tufted titmice are year-round birds in Ohio. They prefer orchards because of the fruit availability and often hang around them through winter to glean whatever remains on the vines. They also live in deciduous wooded areas or mixed woods.

Tufted titmouse range map.

10. White-breasted Nuthatch

white-breasted nuthatch Ohio winter bird
White-breasted nuthatch. Image by Gregory Sabin from Pixabay

Appearance: The white-breasted nuthatch is a small backyard bird about 5-6″ long with a gray/blue back, white head with a black cap, chestnut under the tail, and a long thin pick-like beak. Females look similar except their cap and neck are gray.

Winter diet: Insects hibernating beneath the bark & seeds.

Winter feeder food: Suet, sunflower seed, shelled peanuts.

Winter habitat: White-breasted nuthatches spend time in Ohio year-round. They prefer mature deciduous and mixed forests; wooded suburban areas such as orchards, parks, and backyards and are usually spotted moving head-first down a tree trunk foraging for insects beneath the bark.

Range Map

White breasted nuthatch range map

11. American Goldfinch

American goldfinch Ohio winter bird
American goldfinch in winter plumage. Photo taken by Tammy Poppie.

Winter appearance: The American goldfinch is a small bird about 4.5″ long. In fall, goldfinches molt their bright yellow feathers revealing a dingy brown body, duller yellow head, and thicker white stripes on their wings for winter. Females are similar to males except their wings have more white tips

Winter diet: Seeds they can glean from seed-bearing flowers (weeds, grasses) that are still standing and (dormant) insects.

Winter feeder food: Thistle seed (Nyjer)

Winter habitat: They’re a common bird in winter throughout the contiguous US. You can find them in weedy fields, roadsides, orchards, and backyards.

Winter range: American goldfinches are partial migrators. While most of them spend all four seasons of the year in Ohio, when winter rolls around some of them expand west and south.

Range Map

American goldfinch map range

12. European Starling

European starling Ohio winter bird
European starling.

Appearance: The European starling is a medium-sized bird about 7 1/2″ long with iridescent shades of purple and black with white speckles throughout. They have a long pointed gray bill in fall and yellow in spring. The tail is short. The female of the species looks the same.

Winter diet: Seeds and fruit that happen to remain on the barren branches.

Winter feeder food: Everything and anything you could offer at the feeder.

Winter habitat: Most starlings remain in Ohio year-round while a handful of them migrate south into Mexico. They don’t have a strong preference for habitat but are commonly found in urban and residential areas including backyard lawns, parks, and fields.

European starling range map

13. Black-Capped Chickadee

Black capped chickadee Ohio winter bird
Black-capped chickadee. Photo by Peter Lewis on Unsplash

Appearance: Black-capped chickadees are small birds about 5 1/4″ long. They have a black cap – as well as a black throat and cheek. They have white breasts and bellies, and the body and wings are a gray-olive color with edges of white. During the winter their belly changes to a buffer tan.

Diet: Seeds, small fruits, and berries that remain on the trees, shrubs, and vines.

Feeder Food: Black-oil sunflower & safflower seeds (They peck a hole in the shell to get at the tiny seed bits inside), suet, peanut butter, and hulled peanuts.

Habitat: Black-capped chickadees remain in northern and northeastern Ohio for winter. They prefer the edges of forests and open wooded areas – including your backyard or even tree-lined parks in the city. They will also hang out in shrubs and willow thickets. Trees are still important for this bird because they are cavity nesters and offer a much-needed place to roost in winter.

Range Map

Black capped chickadee range map

14. American Robin

american robin Ohio winter bird
American robin. Photo by Jedidiah Church on Unsplash

Appearance: Medium-size bird about 10″ long, gray/brown upper, brown/orange underparts, yellow beak, white chin, white surrounding eyes. orange beak. The Female has a lighter head and underparts.

Winter diet: In winter, robins eat berries and other fruits left on shrubs, trees, and vines.

Feeder food: Robins do not visit feeders.

Habitat: In wintertime, American robins stay put in Ohio. They’re typically found in fields, parks, wooded and forested areas, mountains, and backyards.

Range Map

american robin bird on a branch

15. Carolina Chickadee

Carolina chickadee Ohio winter bird
Carolina chickadee. Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash

Appearance: The Carolina chickadee is a small bird about 5″ long. They’re primarily gray on top and white underneath. They have a black cap & throat, white cheeks that fade to gray in the back, and buffy tan flanks.

Winter diet: Seeds and small fruits leftover on shrubs and trees.

Winter feeder food: Sunflower seeds, peanut chips, and suet.

Winter habitat: Carolina chickadees spend winter in their year-round range which includes the southern 3/4 of Ohio. They prefer woodlands and wooded edges, suburbs, and city parks.

Range Map

Carolina chickadee range map.

16. Carolina Wren

Carolina wren Ohio winter bird
Carolina wren. Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash

Appearance: The Carolina wren is a small bird about 5 1/2″ long, chunky shape with deep rusty brown above and cinnamon color below. Bold white stripe above the eye and throat. Down curved bill.

Winter diet: Insects and spiders.

Winter feeder food: Hulled sunflower seeds, peanut hearts, and suet.

Winter habitat: Carolina wrens spend all four seasons, including winter, in Ohio. They prefer brushy woods and wooded backyards.

Range Map

Carolina wren range map

17. Song Sparrow

Song sparrow Ohio winter bird
Song sparrow puffed up to stay warm in winter. Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash

Appearance: Song sparrows are small birds between 5-6″ in length with round heads and varying shades of brown streaks on the chest that converge into a central dark spot. They have dark brown eyes, short stubby beaks, and long, round tails. The females appear the same.

Winter diet: Seeds.

Winter feeder food: Unlikely to visit a feeder.

Winter habitat: Song sparrows remain in Ohio for winter. They prefer open areas and edges of woodlands.

Range Map

Song sparrow range map.

18. Hairy Woodpecker

Male hairy woodpecker Ohio winter bird
Male hairy woodpecker. Image by Jennifer Beebe from Pixabay

Appearance: The hairy woodpecker is a medium-sized black-and-white bird about 9″ long with a white belly and black wings with white spots. A white stripe runs down the back. They have a red mark on the back of the head and a long black bill. The female is the same except with no red mark.

Winter diet: Seeds, nuts, and any hibernating insects they can find beneath the tree bark.

Winter feeder food: Suet, hulled peanuts.

Winter habitat: Hairy woodpeckers are year-round visitors in Ohio. They prefer mature forests, urban, and suburban areas where dense trees are found.

Range Map

Hairy woodpecker range map.

19. White-throated Sparrow

White throated sparrow Ohio winter bird
White-throated sparrow. Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash

Appearance: The white-throated sparrow is a small bird about 6-7″ long. They’re brown with a gray chest & belly and have a small yellow spot between their eyes (lore). They also have a white patch on their throat & crown, and white or tan stripes alternating with black stripes. Females and males are the same.

Winter diet: Seeds.

Winter feeder food: Millet and sunflower seeds.

Winter habitat: White-throated sparrows migrate south for the winter and many settle in Ohio. They prefer forested areas of coniferous and deciduous trees.

Range Map

White-throated sparrow range map.

20. Red-winged Blackbird

American crow Ohio winter bird
American crows in winter. Image by Alexas_Fotos from Pixabay

Appearance: American crows are large all-black birds about 16-20″ long, with wide necks with long straight bills. Males and females have the same appearance.

Diet: They’re opportunistic scavengers who eat just about anything they can find on the ground – especially garbage. Natural living fare includes insects, spiders, frogs, snakes, and other birds’ eggs & young.

Feeder Food: Crows do not visit feeders.

Winter Habitat: American crows are common winter visitors found throughout the US including Ohio. The types of habitat they prefer include fields, open wooded and forested areas, river edges, shores, towns, cities, parks, and more.

Range Map

american crow range map

22. Common Grackle

common grackle in a tree
Male common grackle.

Appearance: The common grackle is a 12.5″ long bird with iridescent blue purple and bronze. Their eyes are yellow with long flared tails. The female is similar with less vibrant coloring (browner) and a shorter tail.

Winter diet: Grains, seeds, and fruit left on the vine.

Winter feeder food: Sunflower seeds, black-oil sunflower seeds.

Winter habitat: Fields with scattered trees, open woodlands, farmlands, and marshes. Common in suburban yards.

Range Map

Common grackle range map.

23. Eastern Bluebird

Eastern bluebird winter bird
Eastern bluebird perched on a snowy branch. Photo by Misty Ladd on Unsplash

Appearance: 7″ long, royal blue, orange throat & breast, white belly & undertail. The female is similar but has more muted colors

Winter Diet: Small fruit left on the branches of trees, shrubs, and vines.

Winter Feeder food: Suet, sunflower seeds, dried fruit.

Winter Habitat: Most eastern bluebirds remain in Ohio for winter while a few expand south and west as far as Colorado and Mexico. They prefer wide-open spaces, fields, & meadows, and will roost in tree cavities or manmade birdhouses to stay warm.

Range Map

US map showing the migration range of the eastern bluebird

24. Red-breasted Nuthatch

red-breasted nuthatch winter bird
Red-breasted nuthatch. Image by Sabine Löwer from Pixabay

Appearance: Red-breasted nuthatches are about 4.5″ long, have gray/blue backs, white heads with black stripes running over either eye, orange-cinnamon-colored breasts, and a pointy pick-like beak. Females look the same except their underside is a more faded color.

Winter diet: Insects that are hibernating beneath the tree bark.

Winter feeder food: Suet, sunflower seeds, shelled peanuts, fruit.

Winter habitat: Red-breasted nuthatches visit Ohio just for the winter. They’re usually spotted climbing upside-down on a deciduous tree foraging for hibernating insects beneath the bark.

Range Map

Map of the red-breasted nuthatch range

25. Northern Flicker

northern flicker standing in snow in winter
Yellow-shafted northern flicker. Photo by Misty Ladd on Unsplash

Appearance: The northern flicker is a large bird about 12.5″ long. They have brown backs with black bars, a black crescent on the upper chest, and white with black spots on the belly and underparts.

• In the eastern part of their range, they are referred to as “yellow-shafted northern flickers” and have bright yellow underwings and undertail. They have a gray crown, tan face, and a red patch on the nape. The male has a black swipe on his cheek, the female does not.

Winter diet: Insects they’re able to find hibernating beneath tree bark.

Winter feeder food: Black-oil sunflower seed, hulled sunflower seed, safflower, suet, cracked corn, peanuts, peanut hearts, and millet.

Winter habitat: Northern flickers remain in Ohio for winter. They prefer open areas near trees.

Range Map

Northern flicker range map

Birds That Stay in Ohio During Winter

Let’s praise the year-round birds that decide to stick around in winter. They deserve props and here they are:

American Crow
American Goldfinch
American Robin
Barred Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Black-Capped Chickadee
Blue Jay
Brown Creeper
Canada Jay (Gray Jay)
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Meadowlark
Eastern Screech-Owl
Eurasian Collared-Dove
European Starling

Evening Grosbeak
Great Horned Owl
Hairy Woodpecker
Horned Lark
House Finch
House Sparrow
Mallard
Mourning Dove
Mute Swan
Northern Bobwhite
Northern Cardinal
Northern Flicker
Northern Mockingbird
Pileated Woodpecker
Pine Siskin

Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Red-Breasted Nuthatch
Red-Headed Woodpecker
Red-Tailed Hawk
Red-Winged Blackbird
Rock Pigeon
Sharp-Shinned Hawk
Short-eared Owl
Song Sparrow
Tufted Titmouse
White-Breasted Nuthatch
Wild Turkey
Wood Duck

Just Visiting for the Season

Some bird species intentionally migrate to the buckeye state for the winter. After all, the temperatures and climate can be so frigid, icy, and downright windy!

An astonishing 23 species travel to Ohio just for winter yet live outside the state for the other seasons. They are:

American Tree Sparrow
Bald Eagle
Brown Creeper
Common Redpoll
Dark-Eyed Junco
Evening Grosbeak
Fox Sparrow
Golden-Crowned Kinglet
Great Black-Backed Gull
Hermit thrush
Northern Goshawk
Pine Grosbeak

Pine Siskin
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
Red-Breasted Nuthatch
Rough-Legged Hawk
Short-Eared Owl
Snow Bunting
Snowy Owl
Swamp Sparrow
White Crowned sparrow
White-Throated Sparrow
Winter Wren
Yellow Bellied Sapsucker
Yellow-Rumped Warbler

How incredible Ohio residents get to enjoy a greater variety of birds in this snowy time of year.

Winter Birds in Various Parts of the State

Northern Ohio

I promised a list of winter birds that northern Ohioans (e.g. Cleveland residents in the northeast part of the state) would be able to see in their neck of the woods. Here they are:

American Crow
American Goldfinch
American Robin
Bald Eagle
Barred Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Black-Capped Chickadee
Blue Jay
Brown Creeper
Canada Goose
Carolina wren
Cedar Waxwing
Common Grackle
Common Redpoll
Cooper’s Hawk
Dark-Eyed Junco
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Meadowlark
Eastern Screech-Owl
European Starling

Evening Grosbeak
Field Sparrow
Golden-Crowned Kinglet
Great Black-Backed Gull
Great Blue Heron
Great Horned Owl
Hairy Woodpecker
Horned Lark
House Finch
House Sparrow
Mallard
Mourning Dove
Northern Bobwhite
Northern Cardinal
Northern Flicker
Northern Goshawk
Northern Mockingbird
Pileated Woodpecker
Pine Grosbeak
Pine Siskin
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill

Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Red-Breasted Nuthatch
Red-Headed Woodpecker
Red-Shouldered Hawk
Red-Tailed Hawk
Red-Winged Blackbird
Rock Pigeon
Rough-Legged Hawk
Sharp-Shinned Hawk
Short-Eared Owl
Snow Bunting
Snowy Owl
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Tufted Titmouse
White Crowned sparrow
White-Breasted Nuthatch
White-Throated Sparrow
Wild Turkey
Winter Wren
Wood Duck
Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Central Ohio

I promised a list of winter birds that central Ohioans would be able to see in their part of the state. Here they are:

American Crow
American Goldfinch
American Robin
Bald Eagle
Barred Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Blue Jay
Brown Creeper
Canada Goose
Carolina Chickadee
Carolina wren
Cedar Waxwing
Common Grackle
Common Redpoll
Cooper’s Hawk
Dark-Eyed Junco
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Meadowlark
Eastern Screech-Owl
European Starling

Evening Grosbeak
Field Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Golden-Crowned Kinglet
Great Blue Heron
Great Horned Owl
Hairy Woodpecker
Hermit thrush
Horned Lark
House Finch
House Sparrow
Mallard
Mourning Dove
Northern Bobwhite
Northern Cardinal
Northern Flicker
Northern Mockingbird
Pileated Woodpecker
Pine Grosbeak
Pine Siskin
Purple Finch

Red Crossbill
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Red-Breasted Nuthatch
Red-Headed Woodpecker
Red-Shouldered Hawk
Red-Tailed Hawk
Red-Winged Blackbird
Rock Pigeon
Rough-Legged Hawk
Sharp-Shinned Hawk
Short-Eared Owl
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Tufted Titmouse
White Crowned sparrow
White-Breasted Nuthatch
White-Throated Sparrow
Wild Turkey
Winter Wren
Wood Duck
Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Southern Ohio

Last but not least, here is the list of winter birds that southern Ohioans can expect to see in winter:

American Crow
American Goldfinch
American Robin
Bald Eagle
Barred Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Blue Jay
Brown Creeper
Canada Goose
Carolina Chickadee
Carolina wren
Cedar Waxwing
Common Grackle
Cooper’s Hawk
Dark-Eyed Junco
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Meadowlark
Eastern Screech-Owl
Eastern Towhee
European Starling

Evening Grosbeak
Field Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Golden-Crowned Kinglet
Great Blue Heron
Great Horned Owl
Hairy Woodpecker
Hermit thrush
Horned Lark
House Finch
House Sparrow
Mallard
Mourning Dove
Northern Bobwhite
Northern Cardinal
Northern Flicker
Northern Mockingbird
Pileated Woodpecker
Pine Siskin
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill

Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Red-Breasted Nuthatch
Red-Headed Woodpecker
Red-Shouldered Hawk
Red-Tailed Hawk
Red-Winged Blackbird
Rock Pigeon
Rough-Legged Hawk
Sharp-Shinned Hawk
Short-Eared Owl
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Tufted Titmouse
White Crowned sparrow
White-Breasted Nuthatch
White-Throated Sparrow
Wild Turkey
Winter Wren
Wood Duck
Yellow Bellied Sapsucker
Yellow-Rumped Warbler

How to Help Them Survive Winter

Winter is a challenging time for wild birds – especially those that settle in midwest states like Ohio.

The plummeting temperatures, wind, and icy precipitation create the need for wildlife to stay warm in order to survive.

Living food is either hibernating (insects) or dying off (plants) leaving wild birds with fewer food options. That’s why many Ohio winter visitors switch to a winter menu of seeds, nuts, and whatever berries they can find left on the plants and trees.

The average low temp in Ohio from December – March is 46 degrees. January lows can get closer to zero which means wild birds will expend even more energy finding food. And, water will be frozen.

You can help birds survive this frigid time by offering high-calorie foods at the feeder and water they can drink and bathe in.

Offer Water

The waterways are likely frozen during parts of winter. Your birdbath will also be frozen. That’s why I recommend putting out a heated birdbath for our feathered friends.

A heated birdbath ensures liquid water is available so they get the hydration they need without expending too much much-needed energy.

heated birdbath attracts Indiana winter eastern bluebirds

I tested several different heated birdbaths and found three models to be the best. In other words, these birdbaths are safe & effective, durable, easy to clean, and a good value. I love the stylish Songbird Essentials heated birdbath but a more affordable API heated birdbath also does the job and looks great!

Offer High-Calorie Feeder Food

If you hang a bird feeder during this time it won’t take much to entice them. They know they need additional calories to stay warm and less energy expenditure searching for food means they can conserve it for other crucial activities like staying warm.

In order to supply the calories birds need to stay warm and survive the winter, you should offer high-calorie food at the bird feeder. The higher fat, the better!

The table below lists high-calorie foods birds love along with the birds you can attract with that food. I recommend offering suet (pure is better but suet cakes with high-fat content are great too) at a minimum.

FoodFat Content*Ohio Winter Birds It Will Attract
Suet (Pure beef or pork fat)100%Crows, robins, chickadees, blue jays, Carolina wrens, woodpeckers (including northern flickers), eastern bluebirds, starlings, nuthatches, tufted titmouse
Suet Cake25 – 95% (depending on contents)Crows, robins, chickadees, blue jays, Carolina wrens, woodpeckers (including northern flickers), eastern bluebirds, starlings, nuthatches, tufted titmouse
Peanuts (Hulled & Unsalted)
45% Crows, chickadees, blue jays, woodpeckers (including northern flickers), starlings
Black-Oil Sunflower Seeds30% All except robins, and woodpeckers.
Safflower Seeds30% Chickadees, blue jays, juncos, woodpeckers, house finch, northern cardinal, northern flicker, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch
Seed Mix10 – 50%All

*Fat content derived from Kaytee brand of bird seed. Other brands may vary.

Bird Feeders

The best feeder for the wintertime is dependent on the food you’re offering and how often you want to fill the feeder.

Platform Bird Feeders

female cardinal perched on platform bird feeder
Female cardinal feeding from a platform feeder. Photo by Tammy Poppie.

I love platform feeders because you can toss any size, shape, and type of food on them. You can even chop up a suet block and toss it onto the feeder. In fact, I can’t think of a food you couldn’t offer on a platform feeder.

Platform feeders also attract and support the largest variety of species from tiny juncos to cardinals and blue jays.

The open style of this feeder requires you to put food out on a regular basis so it is consumed every day or so. Once it snows, the remaining food is covered and becomes less appealing to birds. I prefer to monitor & manage the quantity of food I put out and love the variety of birds it attracts, so platform feeders are my favorite.

Covered Platform Bird Feeders

dollar store diy cardinal bird feeder
The Shabby Tree

Similar to the standard platform feeder, covered platform feeders accept any type of bird food and allow many species to feed from it. The difference is it has a domed cover which helps to keep precipitation like sleet and snow from building up. They’re also easy to clean and durable.

You can make your own covered platform feeder like the one in the picture above, or buy a covered platform feeder.

Tube Feeders

If you prefer to fill a feeder once a week or so, the tube Droll Yankees New Generation Tube Feeder is for you. However, unlike platform feeders, tube feeders are limited to sunflower seeds and mixed seeds.

This style feeder will still attract a variety of birds but the perches on this style feeder are relatively short so larger birds like cardinals and bluejays will be challenged to use it.

Suet Bird Feeder

Male downy woodpecker at suet
Male downy woodpecker dining on suet. Photo by John Holland Jr of JEHJR Photography

Suet and suet cakes usually come in square blocks. You can easily chop them up and toss them onto platform feeders but that’s not feasible with a tube feeder.

Instead, you will need a suet feeder that holds the block of food and enables birds to perch on the wire mesh to feed.

This style feeder is most suited for woodpeckers and nuthatches. If you want to host the largest woodpecker in North America, the pileated woodpecker, make sure you choose a suet feeder with a long tail prop to support them.

Wrapping Up

While winter in Ohio may seem like an eternity, observing the winter birds makes it a bit more bearable. When spring arrives it’s time to say goodbye to the common redpolls, pine grosbeaks, American tree sparrows, white-throated sparrows, and other species only visiting for a season, and hello again to the migrators returning home to Ohio.

I hope you were able to identify the winter bird you’re interested in or at least learned more about them. Happy Birding!


References

More than 25 years ago, Tammy put her first bird feeder outside her kitchen window. Since then she learned how to attract wild birds to her backyard. Studying the meaning & symbolism of wild birds is also a passion of hers. Read more about Tammy