Winter Birds

Kachemak Currents is a podcast and radio segment produced weekly by the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies. This segment originally aired on KBBI public radio (AM 890) on December 2nd, 2023, and was written and recorded by our Wynn Nature Center Coordinator Henry Reiske. For more episodes of Kachemak Currents or to listen live, visit KBBI online.

Transcript:

Welcome to Kachemak Currents, brought to you by the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies.

Thanks to our long days that lead to abundant bugs, berries and an all-around bounty of food to fill the bellies of their growing babies, Alaska in the summer is a popular place for birds willing to make long migrations.  Before the first snows though, these fair weather flocks will abandon us. In our forests and along our coast, we will lose large swaths of birds with all warblers, thrushes, fly catchers, and swallows heading south for easier winters, alongside most of our shorebirds and numerous other species. This leaves us with our loyal resident species that will stick it out in Kachemak Bay all winter long. 

During a walk in the woods or out sitting on your porch, although we have lost a lot, there are still many interesting species to be found.  Two species that add a pop of color to our winter landscape and can frequently be seen are the Pine Grosbeak and White-winged Crossbills. For both of these similar species, the males are a bright red while the females are yellow. The visual differences in these species are not particularly obvious, but with a little bit of time and some close observation you can tell apart these winter delights. Grosbeak are larger and have more gray wings and tails compared to the black of the Crossbills. If, however, you are not familiar with these birds and are not seeing them together, which is often the case, there is one very clear but hard to spot difference—the bill. 

A female Crossbill perched in a spruce tree. Note the way her beak overlaps.

Crossbills as their name implies have a crossed bill. This means that the tips of their bills actually overlap and you can see their beak tips poking out from above and below the main body of their beak. Unless you are really close—or have a nice set of binoculars—this can be very hard to spot. It does lead to some behavioral differences, though. That funky crossed bill is a highly specialized tool for eating spruce seeds by prying back the scales and then snagging the seed with their tongue.  It really isn’t great for much else though, and crossbills will most often be seen among spruce cones in flocks at the tops of trees.

A male Pine Grosbeak showing the typical stubby bill with rounded edges.

The heavy—but more traditional—beak of a Grosbeak is a much more versatile tool, and they have a wider diet; being seen pursuing all sorts of winter vegetation including frequently visiting feeders. As is not uncommon due to their high fat content, black oil sunflower seeds are the favorite feeder food for the Grosbeaks. Once the bears have begun their hibernation, putting out a feeder can get you great chances to check out—as well as help—our winter bird population. 

A male Snow Bunting. The warm orange tones on his head and back will disappear when it’s breeding season.

There are many more birds that stick it out with us through the winter, but I do also want to mention an even more exclusive crew. These are the birds that actually move into Homer for the winter, coming from further north. Some of the birds that you will only spot in Kachemak Bay by getting out in the colder months are Rosy Finch, Snow Bunting, and Spectacled and King Eiders. Heading to the Spit is a great way to catch sight of these winter visitors.

This is Henry Reiske, and this has been Kachemak Currents. Brought to you by the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, which has been connecting you with the nature of Kachemak Bay through education and stewardship for 40 years.