[CT Birds] winter finches

[Carrier Graphics]

Winter finches


With so many winter finches being seen here in CT this winter, I would like to make some comments on them if I may.
 As most of you know, these birds are generally not migratory as such, but nomadic wanderers. When winter comes, they often move about there breeding territory looking for food, but when their staple foods become scarce up where they usually winter over, which is usually to our north, they move about looking for more abundant food. Periodically, that food abundance might be found south of their normal winters supply up north, thus they often wander south to find it. 
However, as the winter wares on, and this abundant supply runs low from their exploits of eating it up, (such as ornamental apples for Pine Grosbeaks) they must once again wander about looking for a more available food source. That source might be more of the same that was so abundant, or a completely different source of food altogether. I believe this is happening now, or soon will be. 

When this happens, we must begin looking for the other sources of there food to find them, so I have composed a list below that might help us with finding these birds again as the winter wanes. 

PINE GROSBEAK: 
I have seen them eating from this winter:-

Ornamental Apple – Canaan/Goshen/Falls Village – seems first choice ?
Crab Apple – W. Hartland – second choice?
Multaflora rose – Norfolk – 
White Spruce buds – W. Hartland – third choice? 
Norway Spruce Buds – Winchester – 
Maple Buds – Winchester – 
Also from books:
Cultivated Apple -  
Pine seeds – way down - 
Red Cedar berries – down - 
Mt Ash berries – down - 
Dogwood berries – 
Ash seeds – down - 

WHITE WINGED- CROSSBILL:
I have seen them eating from this year:-

White spruce cones – Canaan Mt – 
 Also from books:
Spruce cones – up and down - 
Pine cones – down - 
Hemlock cones – down - 
Larch cones – up - 
Red Cedar berries – down - 


RED CROSSBILL:
I have seen them eating from this year:-

Black Spruce buds – Torrington – 
Also from books:
Red pine cones – 
White pine cones – down -  
Larch cones & buds – up - 
Hemlock cones – down - 
Spruce cones & buds – 



BOHEMIAN WAXWING:
I have seen them eating from this year:-

Wild grape – Falls Village – abundant –at the time -  
Maple buds – Winchester – 
Also from books:
Cultivated Apple - 
Red Cedar berries – down - 
Dogwood berries – 
Poison Ivy berries – 
Hawthorn berries - 


Don’t overlook searching Larches, they seem to be loaded this year – so to many Apples, some spruces are heavy with cones, and as I and Tim A. experienced, these winter birds literally DISAPEAR feeding within spruce trees! Best to look and also listen for them within these trees. 
So in conclusion; One of the best ways to find these elusive winter finches is to look, AND listen for them amongst their favorite food sources. And one more hint. As you drive about, look for birds within and at tops of trees, bare deciduous especially. When not feeding on their food source, they relax and digest usually at the tops of trees.  Good luck!... 

Paul Carrier,   and I approve of this message
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