Missouri Snow Brings the Birds
- Thomas Smugala
- 23 hours ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 55 minutes ago
Last week, I was minding my own business and not thinking about a major snowstorm at all. I love the snow and all it brings into my life. Snow seems to turn the world quiet. It softens the edges and makes everything feel newly imagined. All wrapped up, your footsteps sound muffled. Time seems to slow to a crawl. Everything feels clean, possible, as if the earth is taking a deep, peaceful breath. And the winter birds show up to partake in the brilliance—what’s not to love about snow?
Cardinals are Missouri's most colorful snowbird—my opinion anyway.
Blue Jays are year-round Missouri residents. Toss some sunflower seeds out and they will show up.
In Missouri, Dark-eyed Juncos always show up right before the first snow of the year—how do they know?
A good feeder will attract the winter birds.
When I woke up and saw the snow, the very first thing I noticed was a dark-eyed Junco bird. Rumor has it that the Juncos always show up on the first snow of the year—really? I need to ask GROK about that. Here is what I got:
They’re short-distance migrants. When colder air and winter storms start pushing south from Canada and the northern U.S., Juncos move ahead of it, not after it.
Missouri sits right in their ideal winter zone—cold enough to support the seeds they love, but not as harsh as farther north. So when snow is on the way, Juncos arrive, fluff up, and start hopping around feeders like calm little prophets of winter.
Well, I'll be.
Chickadees are fun to watch.
Okay, I'm not a bird nut, but I do keep a feeder outside my window because I love to watch the birds come and go, and I love the fact that there are always different bird types coming and going, but on this day, it was like someone threw a switch and all the birds changed. In addition to the Juncos, there were Blue Jays, Cardinals, a Brown Thrasher, Downy Woodpeckers, A Red-Head King Woodpecker, brown-headed cowbirds, Titmouse, and Chickadees—a birdy cornucopia right outside my window.
I know birds love the snow too!
There is something about watching a wild animal up close. They are always happy and on the move. And birds get used to you being around very quickly. We've had this feeder up for about two years now, and the birds pretty much ignore us even when we sit a few feet from the feeder. They are all just busy minding their own business and playing in the snow. You know they love the snow too.
Downy woodpeckers are always fun to watch in the snow.
According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, attracting winter birds to your backyard is easy. A clean, ice-free water source makes a huge difference. You may consider a heated birdbath because all birds need water for drinking and bathing—give them food and water, and they will show. It turns out birds are like people—always looking for the path of least resistance.
The Missouri Department of Conservation has tons of bird-related info if you want to get into birds. https://mdc.mo.gov › wildlife › birds
What are you waiting for? GET OUT THERE. Take a hint from the birds—Move it!
Be sure to visit all of our awesome sponsors who make these stories possible!
