This is the most likely time to entertain rarer visitors from the North if the natural foods in their boreal forest habitats are in short supply. Watch for pine siskins, common redpolls, purple finches, snow buntings, red and white-winged crossbills, evening and pine grosbeaks, American three-toed and black-backed woodpeckers and snowy owls.

Suet is important in winter as it gives the birds instant energy to help keep them warm. Cracked corn, often a filler in inexpensive bird seed mixes, also provides body heat for feeder birds.

Mourning doves, in particular, will feast on the cracked corn as they arrive at bird feeders in larger flocks than usual, eating early and then loafing nearby during midday.

In the South, yellow-rumped and pine warblers, as well as hermit thrushes, will frequent feeders that offer bird cakes mixed with suet, and fruit cups.

This is also the beginning of the breeding season for resident owls. On cold, clear and quiet nights, listen for great horned and barred owls hooting, and for screech-owls whinnying. Breeding territories have been established, and nesting may be underway.

Heated bird baths may pull in birds from far away as they may provide the only open water in some regions.