Winter Bird Sounds: 5 Calls to Learn While It's Cold Outside

The feeder is quiet until the ground starts ticking. Then the trees answer with a tin horn.

Why winter is the best time to learn bird sounds

Most birders think spring and summer are the prime seasons for birding by ear. All those warblers, thrushes, and vireos singing their hearts out. But here's the thing: that abundance is overwhelming. Dozens of unfamiliar songs competing at once.

Winter is different. Fewer species means less competition for your attention. The woods are quieter, and when something calls, you notice.

There are practical acoustic advantages too:

• No leaf canopy – less foliage to scatter and absorb sound, so calls feel cleaner at distance.
• Cold, calm days – temperature layers can bend sound back toward the ground, making distant calls feel louder than expected.
• Mixed flocks – winter birds travel together, so you can hear multiple species in one spot.
• Contact calls – birds vocalize constantly to stay in touch with their flock.

If you can nail these 5 winter sounds, you'll have a foundation that makes spring migration feel less chaotic.

1. Dark-eyed Junco – the snowbird

The Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) is the classic winter bird. The species name hyemalis means "of winter" in Latin. Many people call them "snowbirds" because they seem to arrive with the first cold snap.

In reality, they're not migrating from somewhere exotic – they're descending from higher elevations. Juncos breed in mountain forests and boreal regions, then drop down to lower elevations when winter hits. Their "arrival" is actually a descent.

Audio fingerprint: If winter sounds like clicking and ticking from ground-feeding flocks, it's probably Juncos.

What it sounds like

• A sharp "tick" or "smack" chip note – crisp onset, clean termination.
• High, short chip notes given in rapid succession when flying.
• A simple musical trill on a single pitch (their song) – even-paced, lasting about 2 seconds.
• The chip note is used constantly for flock cohesion.

Where you'll hear it

• Under bird feeders, hopping through leaf litter.
• Woodland edges, brushy areas, suburban yards.
• Usually in small to medium flocks (6-20 birds).
• Look for the flash of white outer tail feathers when they fly.

2. White-throated Sparrow – "Oh sweet Canada"

The White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) has one of the most recognizable songs in North America. The clear, whistled "Oh sweet Canada Canada Canada" is a sound you won't forget once you learn it.

Unlike the Junco's short descent from the mountains, White-throated Sparrows are genuine long-distance migrants. They breed across the Canadian boreal forest (hence the mnemonic) and winter across the eastern and southern United States.

Audio fingerprint: Pure whistled notes with pitch variation. Two long intro notes, then repeated shorter elements.

What it sounds like

• Clear, whistled song: "Oh sweet Canada Canada Canada" or "Old Sam Peabody Peabody Peabody."
• Two long introductory notes, then repeated shorter elements.
• Pure tones with excellent frequency stability – remarkably consistent across individuals.
• Softer "pink" or "chink" chip note (less sharp than Junco).

Where you'll hear it

• Brushy edges, thickets, overgrown fields.
• Often on the ground or in low shrubs.
• Common at feeders, especially with mixed seed.
• Often in mixed flocks with Juncos and other sparrows.

3. Red-breasted Nuthatch – the tin horn

The Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) produces one of winter's most distinctive sounds: a nasal, honky "yank yank yank" that sounds like a tiny tin horn or a miniature party horn.

Red-breasted Nuthatches are irruptive migrants. When conifer cone crops fail in the boreal forest, they flood southward in huge numbers. Some winters they're everywhere; other years they're nearly absent.

Audio fingerprint: Nasal, congested quality. If it sounds like a honky, tin-horn "yank yank yank" coming from the conifers, that's Red-breasted Nuthatch.

What it sounds like

• Nasal "yank yank yank" or "ank ank ank" – tin-horn quality.
• Higher pitched and more nasal than White-breasted Nuthatch.
• Congested, honky sound with restricted harmonic content.
• Often repeated insistently.

Where you'll hear it

• Conifers (spruce, fir, pine) and mixed forests.
• Descends tree trunks headfirst – unique among North American birds.
• Visits suet feeders and sunflower feeders.
• Abundance varies dramatically year to year.

4. Pine Siskin – the zipper bird

The Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) has one of the most distinctive calls in the winter soundscape: a rising, buzzy "zreeeee" that sounds like a zipper being pulled or tiny machinery starting up.

Like the Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskins are nomadic and irruptive. They follow seed crops, appearing in huge numbers some winters and being nearly absent in others. When they're around, they often swarm feeders with American Goldfinches.

Audio fingerprint: Ascending frequency, almost electric. If winter sounds like tiny machinery starting up, it's probably Siskins.

What it sounds like

• Rising, buzzy "zreeeee" – ascending frequency sweep.
• Almost electric quality with harmonic richness.
• Chattery flight calls mixed with the signature ascending buzz.
• The ascending contour is key – the frequency goes up.

Where you'll hear it

• Conifers, alders, birches – anywhere with small seeds.
• Thistle (nyjer) feeders – often with goldfinches.
• Usually in flocks, sometimes large (50+ birds).
• Look for yellow wing bars and streaky plumage.

5. Brown Creeper – the ghost whisper

The Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) is the ninja of winter birds. Its call is so thin and high-pitched that many people literally cannot hear it. For those who can, it's often the first clue that a creeper is nearby.

Brown Creepers spiral up tree trunks (the opposite of nuthatches), probing bark crevices for insects. Their cryptic brown plumage makes them nearly invisible against bark. You'll hear them far more often than you see them.

Audio fingerprint: Extremely thin, high "seep" at the upper edge of human hearing. Pure tone, barely perceptible.

What it sounds like

• Extremely thin, high-frequency "seep" or "sree".
• Pure tone with minimal harmonic content.
• Often near the upper limit of human hearing sensitivity.
• Wispy, threadlike quality – not buzzy like Siskin, not nasal like Nuthatch.

Where you'll hear it

• Tree trunks in mature forests and woodlots.
• Watch for birds spiraling up trunks, then flying to the base of the next tree.
• Often joins mixed winter flocks with chickadees and nuthatches.
• Cryptic plumage mimics bark – very hard to spot.

How to learn these sounds indoors

Here's the secret about winter birding: the best time to learn isn't always outside. It's January, the sun sets at 4:30 PM, and it's 15°F. You still want to get better at bird sounds.

If it's dark by late afternoon and the feeder is frozen solid, you can still train your ear. The trick is short, repeated exposure with active recall – hearing the sound, guessing the bird, then checking if you're right.

Learning Journeys in W&W is built around exactly this method. It's a structured, audio-first curriculum that lets you practice bird sound ID from your couch. And yes, there's a Winter Street Trees lesson that teaches exactly these 5 species.

Why it works

• Repetition – hear each species multiple times with guidance on what to listen for.
• Active recall – quizzes reinforce patterns better than passive listening.
• Real recordings – not synthesized sounds. Actual birds.
• Guided narration – a narrator highlights the key audio features: "nasal tin-horn quality," "ascending frequency," "pure tone at hearing threshold."

Learn the patterns indoors, then test yourself outside. When you hear that rising "zreeeee" at the feeder, you'll know: Pine Siskin.

Learn Winter Bird Sounds in W&W

The Winter Street Trees lesson teaches all 5 species in this guide

Winter Street Trees

Backyard Day Shift

Finch Clinic

Sparrow Sorting Hat

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FAQ: Winter bird sounds

What birds sing in winter?

Many birds vocalize in winter, though they use contact calls more than songs. Species like Dark-eyed Juncos, White-throated Sparrows, chickadees, and nuthatches call constantly to maintain flock cohesion. Some species like White-throated Sparrows and Northern Cardinals will sing even in winter, especially on mild days.

Why is winter a good time to learn bird sounds?

Winter has fewer species, which means less competition for your attention. The woods are quieter, bare branches don't absorb sound, and cold air transmits sound better. It's easier to isolate and learn individual calls when there aren't 30 warblers singing at once.

What bird sounds like a tiny horn in winter?

The Red-breasted Nuthatch produces a nasal "yank yank yank" that sounds like a miniature tin horn or party horn. It's higher and more nasal than the White-breasted Nuthatch's similar call.

What winter bird sounds like a zipper?

The Pine Siskin makes a distinctive rising, buzzy "zreeeee" that many people compare to a zipper being pulled or tiny machinery starting up. The ascending frequency is the key identifier.

Why do juncos click when they fly?

Dark-eyed Juncos give rapid "tick" chip notes when flying and foraging to maintain flock cohesion. These contact calls help birds stay connected with their group, especially when feeding in areas with limited visibility like leaf litter.

Can I learn bird sounds indoors?

Yes. Apps like W&W offer structured lessons with real recordings and guided narration. The Learning Journeys feature includes a Winter Street Trees lesson that covers Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin, and Brown Creeper.

Wrap-up: Build your winter ear

Winter birding by ear comes down to five distinct acoustic signatures:

1. Clicking flocks on the ground → Dark-eyed Junco
2. Clear whistled "Oh sweet Canada" → White-throated Sparrow
3. Nasal tin-horn "yank yank" → Red-breasted Nuthatch
4. Rising electric buzz → Pine Siskin
5. Thin, high ghost whisper → Brown Creeper

These five species often travel in mixed winter flocks. Learn to recognize one, and you'll start noticing the others. That clicking flock of Juncos under the feeder? Listen for the nasal "yank" of a nuthatch overhead, or the rising buzz of Siskins in the trees.

The cold months are a quieter, slower time to build your ear. By spring, when the woods explode with migrant song, you'll have a foundation to build on.