My Little Chickadees

[Pepper]

Originally Posted by ILoveWinnipesaukee

... Not sure if you have them up at the lake, but we also have what we call here in Massachusetts as snow birds, they are mostly black except for a white stomach. ...

The bird you refer to is the Dark-eyed Junco, one of my favorites! They, like the chickadee, are very social. One of their most entertaining behaviors is what I refer to as the snow-dance. If you sprinkle seed (preferably sunflower) on the deck or deck railings after a light snow, they will position themselves over a seed, and then hop forward and backward very quickly so as to clear the snow away from the seed. It's absolutely hilarious to watch!

Another bird to be on the look-out for this time of year is the Cedar Waxwing. They'll descend in large groups anywhere there are berries to be had. You'll know they've arrived when you hear their chorus of "tseeeee tseeeee tseeeeee". They're stunningly beautiful.