Baby, it’s cold outside, but these birds are braving the SoCal winter! Year-round residents or winter visitors, here are some “snow birds” you can expect to see in Southern California, whether you’re visiting your favorite birding hotspot or watching your bird feeder from the comfort of your cozy living room.
Bald Eagles
Relegated in California to mainly a small number of places near bodies of water, Bald Eagles are a rare, but beautiful, find when you’re out birding. And here in Big Bear Lake, bald eagles are year-round residents. These beautiful and amazing birds are a thrilling sight in winter, and include our very own mated pair, Jackie and Shadow.
Big Bear Lake has a large wintering population in Southern California. To see them, hit up one of Big Bear Lake’s birding hotspots, or if the weather isn’t cooperating, watch the live eagle cam from your couch.
Brown Creepers
These tiny songbirds are year-round residents of Southern California’s forests and woodlands. Named for the way they “creep” up and down tree trunks in both directions, Brown Creepers love looking for insects to feast on. But when these are scarce, as in winter, you can tempt them to your feeders by filling them with sunflower seeds and corn. Or if you’re up for a nature walk, you can find them in Big Bear Lake, as close as Knickerbocker Canyon.
California Spotted Owls
Only found in the Sunshine state, California Spotted Owls reside here year-round. With a population stressed and dwindling from habitat loss due to deforestation, California Spotted Owls were just recently added to the Endangered Species list. Though a rare sighting, you can find these medium-sized owls by listening for their hooting calls at night, their main hunting time for squirrels and rodents. They can also be found roosting and nesting in the nooks and cavities of mature trees.
Canadian Geese
After breeding in Canada and Alaska, Canadian Geese seek the warmer temperatures of the central and southern United States as their winter home. In fall, you’ll hear their signature honks and look up to see them fly in V-formation overhead. These migrating birds can fly up to 1,500 miles in a single day! Find them along waterways, ponds, lakes, and rivers.
Cedar Waxwings
Identified by their crested head and black-and-white mask marking, cedar waxwings are a welcome sight in Southern California during winter. Often seen in flocks, these cheery birds use high-pitched calls to communicate with each other. Look for them high in evergreen trees or along rivers and ponds. Want to attract them to your yard? Plant native shrubs like juniper and hawthorn.
Spotted Towhees
It’s such a treat to spot one of these dapper-looking birds. From its sooty head to its warm-brown chest and white-flecked feathers, the Spotted Towhee is a sight to behold. These year-round Southern California natives love forests and fields. In fact, if you let your yard go a bit wild during fall and winter, you just mind find them poking around your overgrown shrubs and leaf and branch piles. A well-placed suet feeder, or a feeder filled with peanut pieces and sunflower seeds, is also a sure attractor.
Western Tanagers
Vibrantly colored and eye catching, Western Tanagers can be found foraging high up in the treetops. Spending most of spring and summer in northwestern Canada and generally moves south in winter. They can be found in virtually any habitat in Southern California during the cold winter months, and are most often spotted in woodlands of aspens, oaks, spruces, and pines. Locally, you can spot them at Sandalwood (Von’s) Marsh.
Western Tanagers mainly feed on fruits and berries in winter, as opposed to their warmer-weather insect diet. Though they don’t eat seeds, you can draw them to your yard by placing orange wedges, raspberries, and other fresh fruit.
White-crowned Sparrows
These winter visitors (though there is also a small sub-section the population that lives on the coast year-round) are known for their black-and-white striped “crown.” White-crowned sparrows can be found hopping along the ground looking for food. They love overgrown fields and brush, so an untended yard is an open invitation. You can also attract them with a high-quality seed mix, like Chirp’s Big Bear Blend (available by subscription, and dropped right at your door!)
Yellow-rumped Warblers
When looking for a Yellow-rumped Warbler, keep an eye out for a flash of bright yellow. These wintering birds can be found across Southern California come winter, and sometimes migrate as far north as Newfoundland. Listen for their signature warbles, trills, and whistles high up in conifers. (If you’re a Big Bear Lake local or visitor, take a trip up to Meadow’s Edge and you might see some in the trees.) And a bird feeder hint? They love sunflower seeds, suet, and peanut butter.
Want More? Check Out These Winter Resources
