For the Birds: As it turns out, birds and birders are smart

Posted on March 7, 2026 by Chris Bosak

Photo by Chris Bosak
Snow gathers on a blue jay’s face during a snowstorm, January 25, 2026, New England. Blue jays, like all corvids, are highly intelligent.

We’ve all heard the expression “birdbrain” to describe someone lacking intelligence or prone to doing dumb things. The definition that pops up when doing an internet search is “a silly or stupid person.”

Birdbrain, of course, is a misnomer because birds are actually very smart.

While everyone has heard of birdbrain, how about birderbrain? I’d be willing to bet not many people have heard that one before. That would be understandable because I just made up the expression for this column.

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For the Birds: Deep snow, cold not a great scenario for birds

Posted on February 14, 2026 by Chris Bosak

Photo by Chris Bosak
American goldfinch eats seeds from a spent flower in New England, January 2026.

A ton of snow followed by prolonged freezing temperatures can spell disaster for birds. Luckily, birds have developed several survival strategies to cope with such conditions.

There are several factors at play in these conditions. I will focus mostly on finding food but will address some of the others quickly.

First, there is the cold. Birds survive freezing temperatures through adaptations that conserve heat and energy. Feathers provide excellent insulation, and many birds maximize this by fluffing their feathers to trap warm air close to their bodies. Birds also have a high metabolic rate, which is fueled by energy-rich foods such as seeds and fat commonly found at feeders.

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For the Birds: Great Backyard Bird Count is coming

Posted on January 31, 2026 by Chris Bosak

Photo by Chris Bosak
A red-shouldered hawk perches on a branch during a snowy day in New England, January 2026.

It should come as no surprise that birdwatching is growing in popularity, according to several studies and other metrics. It had been gaining in popularity for years, but the pandemic greatly accelerated the movement.

As I researched the Great Backyard Bird Count for this column, I was surprised at how much birdwatching had gained in popularity, at least as it is measured by the number of GBBC participants.

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January 25, 2026, snowstorm bird photos: round 4

Posted on January 25, 2026 by Chris Bosak

Phto by Chris Bosak – A tufted titmouse during a snowstorm on January 25, 2026, in New England.

Yet a few more bird photos from the snowstorm on January 25, 2026, in New England.

Photo by Chris Bosak
A male cardinal perches on a branch during a snowstorm, January 2026, New England.

Northern flicker at birdbath

Posted on December 16, 2025 by Chris Bosak

Photo by Chris Bosak
A northern flicker sips from a birdbath in New England, fall 2025.

I looked out and saw that the water in the birdbath was a solid block of ice. I poured in enough warm water that the ice broke free, so I tossed the frozen block onto the ground and filled the bath with warm water. Within 10 minutes, a northern flicker arrived and took a few sips. What a design on this bird.

More junco on goldenrod photos

Posted on November 17, 2025 by Chris Bosak

Photo by Chris Bosak – A dark-eyed junco eats goldenrod seeds at Huntington State Park in Redding, Connecticut, November 2025.

Here are a few more photos of my experience with juncos in the goldenrod field recently. See the last “For the Birds” column for the whole story. On a side note, now you know what goldenrod looks like after the yellow flowers die off.

Thanks for your support of Birds of New England.com.

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