Friday Feathered Feature

White-winged Crossbill

White-winged Crossbill

Though mostly restricted to northern Wisconsin where abundant native conifer trees provide food, White-winged Crossbills will breed in conifer plantings in the southern Kettle Moraine, and other localized spots of high conifer density in southern Wisconsin.

Photo by Kurayba FCC

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Without the attractant of bird feeders in suburban areas, the Sharp-shinned Hawk might be a much rarer sight. As it stands, the bird is occasionally seen at feeders, but it’s not there for the bird feed. Instead, it’s songbirds that feed the Sharp-shinned Hawk, making up 90% of its diet.

Photo by Mick Thompson

Boreal Chickadee

Boreal Chickadee

On the southern edge of its range in Wisconsin, the Boreal Chickadee lives in characteristically wet and boreal environments with fun names like bog, muskeg, and tamarack, black spruce, or balsam fir swamps. These cold and damp ecosystems, with conifers, allow a unique assemblage of birds to thrive.

Photo by David Mitchell FCC