Wisconsin Winter Bird Identification Guide

This is your complete Wisconsin winter bird identification guide! It contains all birds that can be found somewhere in the state of Wisconsin in winter.

If you live in Wisconsin or plan to visit during the winter, you’ll need a comprehensive guide to the birds you can expect to see. Look no further, everything you need to know is inside this guide including color photos of each bird, range maps showing where in the state they live, the food they’ll eat at the feeder and in the wild, their habitat, and so much more.

There are more than 80 species of birds that enjoy Wisconsin at some point in the year. However, not all of them stick around for winter. Some birds travel to Wisconsin just for the winter and others are found year-round in parts of the state but not statewide.

Depending on where you live in the state you can expect to see at least some of the Wisconsin winter birds, but maybe not others. That’s where the range map is handy. If you see purple or light blue in the area you live in, you should expect to see that specific bird.

I’ve been backyard birdwatching in Wisconsin for more than 20 years and have seen many of the winter birds. While winter isn’t my favorite season (especially when the temps are below zero) I’m thankful I have the winter birds to look forward to. Dark-eyed junco visits only in the winter – so that’s always exciting. And, the stunning sight of a red male cardinal against the backdrop of stark white snow never gets old. Somehow, winter birds make the season more bearable.

So, without further delay, enjoy the Wisconsin winter birds:

Appearance	Large all-black bird about 16-20″ long, wide neck with a long straight bill. Male and females have the same appearance.
Diet	Opportunistic scavengers 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	Not likely to visit a feeder.
Habitat	Common birds found in every contiguous US state and most of Canada. Types of habitat include fields, open wooded and forested areas, river edges, shores, towns, cities, parks, and more. The only place you won’t find them is in the hot desert.
Nesting	Nest: Builds nests in a large shrub or tree as high as 20′ Broods: 1-2 broods/season Clutch: 3-9 eggs per brood Egg color: Ranging from brighter blue-green to a dull green or blue-gray with heavy gray and brown blotching Egg size: 1.4 – 1.9 inches by 1 inch Incubation: Both parents incubate the eggs for about 18 days.

Appearance	Small bird about 4.5″ long, bright yellow body, black wings with white stripes, black forehead, short orange beak. During winter has a dingy brown body, duller yellow head, and thicker white stripes on its wings. Breeding females are similar to males except their bodies are lemon yellow and wings have more white tips
Diet	Seeds from flowers, weeds, grasses, and small trees. Some insects.
Feeder Food	Thistle seed (Nyjer)
Habitat	Common bird throughout contiguous US and southern part of Canada. Weedy fields, roadsides, orchards, and backyards.
Nesting	Nest: Builds nest in deciduous shrub or tree, sometimes conifers, placed on branch’s fork as high as 20′ Broods: 1-2 broods/season Clutch: 2-7 eggs per brood Egg color: Very pale blue to white, occasionally faint brown spots on the larger end. Egg size: 0.5 inches by 0.5 inches Incubation: The female incubates the eggs for about 12-14 days while the male brings food to the female.

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.
Diet	Earthworms, insects, and fruit.
Feeder Food	Not a feeder visitor.
Habitat	Common and pervasive throughout US and Canada. Found in fields, parks, wooded and forested areas, mountains, and backyards.
Nesting	Nest: Nesting sites vary from the lower half of a tree to rain gutters, outdoor lights, and more. Broods: 1-3 broods/season, Clutch: 3-5 eggs/brood, Egg color: Bright sky blue or blue-green, without spots Egg size: 1.1″ long x 8″ wide Incubation: 12-14 days.

Appearance	Barred owls are large birds about 21″ long. They have large round faces with dark eyes and yellow bills. They’re primarily brown with white spots on the upperparts and tan underneath with dark brown streaks.
Diet	As a bird of prey, barred owls eat small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and large insects.
Feeder Food	Barred owls do not visit feeders.
Habitat	Mature forests, especially along side water sources like rivers and swamps in their southern range.
Nesting	They nest in a natural tree cavity, often the reused nest of another large bird such as a hawk. They 1 brood/season, 2-3 eggs/brood that are white with a rough surface, and incubate for 28-33 days. The fledglings leave the nest about 28-35 days after hatching.

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