Holiday cards often feature gorgeous red cardinals against a snowy landscape. So it’s easy to assume the birds have always been a colorful presence in bleak Northern winters. But cardinals used to be Southern birds. By the second half of the 20th century, though, they were nesting as far north as Maine, the northern Midwest, and even southern Canada.More info and transcript at <a href="https://www.birdnote.org/podcasts/birdnote-daily/cardinal-southerner-moves-north" target="_blank">BirdNote.org</a>. Want more BirdNote? <a href="https://www.birdnote.org/subscribe-email" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for <a href="https://birdnote.supercast.com/" target="_blank">BirdNote+</a> to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your <a href="https://www.birdnote.org/about/great-ways-support-birdnote" target="_blank">tax-deductible gift</a> makes these shows possible.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Holiday cards often feature gorgeous red cardinals against a snowy landscape. So it’s easy to assume the birds have always been a colorful presence in bleak Northern winters. But cardinals used to be Southern birds. By the second half of the 20th century, though, they were nesting as far north as Maine, the northern Midwest, and even southern Canada.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;More info and transcript at &lt;a href="https://www.birdnote.org/podcasts/birdnote-daily/cardinal-southerner-moves-north" target="_blank"&gt;BirdNote.org&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Want more BirdNote? &lt;a href="https://www.birdnote.org/subscribe-email" target="_blank"&gt;Subscribe&lt;/a&gt; to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for &lt;a href="https://birdnote.supercast.com/" target="_blank"&gt;BirdNote+&lt;/a&gt; to get ad-free listening and other perks. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your &lt;a href="https://www.birdnote.org/about/great-ways-support-birdnote" target="_blank"&gt;tax-deductible gift&lt;/a&gt; makes these shows possible.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
</description>

A colorful presence in bleak Northern winters, but Cardinals used to be Southern birds.


The Cardinal: A Southerner Moves North

Hummingbirds such as this Buff-tailed Sicklebill specialize in nectar feeding. But other species of birds, less specialized to nectar, also visit flowers for a taste of the sweet stuff. The flowers they visit likely have a more open shape, with nectar more accessible to a non-specialist’s bill. The sugar they sample is probably different from what hummingbirds prefer. As flowering plants and birds co-evolved, each to benefit from the other, it seems likely that plants evolved the type of sugar best suited to the pollinators on hand. It's a win-win for all concerned.More info and transcript at <a href="https://www.birdnote.org/podcasts/birdnote-daily/not-just-any-nectar-will-do" target="_blank">BirdNote.org</a>. Want more BirdNote? <a href="https://www.birdnote.org/subscribe-email" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for <a href="https://birdnote.supercast.com/" target="_blank">BirdNote+</a> to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your <a href="https://www.birdnote.org/about/great-ways-support-birdnote" target="_blank">tax-deductible gift</a> makes these shows possible.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Hummingbirds such as this Buff-tailed Sicklebill specialize in nectar feeding. But other species of birds, less specialized to nectar, also visit flowers for a taste of the sweet stuff. The flowers they visit likely have a more open shape, with nectar more accessible to a non-specialist’s bill. The sugar they sample is probably different from what hummingbirds prefer. As flowering plants and birds co-evolved, each to benefit from the other, it seems likely that plants evolved the type of sugar best suited to the pollinators on hand. It's a win-win for all concerned.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;More info and transcript at &lt;a href="https://www.birdnote.org/podcasts/birdnote-daily/not-just-any-nectar-will-do" target="_blank"&gt;BirdNote.org&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Want more BirdNote? &lt;a href="https://www.birdnote.org/subscribe-email" target="_blank"&gt;Subscribe&lt;/a&gt; to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for &lt;a href="https://birdnote.supercast.com/" target="_blank"&gt;BirdNote+&lt;/a&gt; to get ad-free listening and other perks. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your &lt;a href="https://www.birdnote.org/about/great-ways-support-birdnote" target="_blank"&gt;tax-deductible gift&lt;/a&gt; makes these shows possible.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
</description>

The sweet stuff attracts more species than hummingbirds.


Not Just Any Nectar Will Do

The Scaly-breasted Wren lives in Central and South America, and has a lengthy song of whistled notes separated by pauses. By analyzing song recordings, researchers found that Scaly-breasted Wrens can precisely measure out pauses  — even as they increase to several seconds. The findings suggest that the wrens have an internal metronome as accurate as a highly-trained musician playing a solo.Listen to this show in Spanish here.More info and transcript at <a href="https://www.birdnote.org/podcasts/birdnote-daily/birds-can-keep-beat" target="_blank">BirdNote.org</a>. Want more BirdNote? <a href="https://www.birdnote.org/subscribe-email" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for <a href="https://birdnote.supercast.com/" target="_blank">BirdNote+</a> to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your <a href="https://www.birdnote.org/about/great-ways-support-birdnote" target="_blank">tax-deductible gift</a> makes these shows possible.

<description>&lt;p&gt;The Scaly-breasted Wren lives in Central and South America, and has a lengthy song of whistled notes separated by pauses. By analyzing song recordings, researchers found that Scaly-breasted Wrens can precisely measure out pauses  — even as they increase to several seconds. The findings suggest that the wrens have an internal metronome as accurate as a highly-trained musician playing a solo.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Listen to this show in Spanish here.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;More info and transcript at &lt;a href="https://www.birdnote.org/podcasts/birdnote-daily/birds-can-keep-beat" target="_blank"&gt;BirdNote.org&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Want more BirdNote? &lt;a href="https://www.birdnote.org/subscribe-email" target="_blank"&gt;Subscribe&lt;/a&gt; to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for &lt;a href="https://birdnote.supercast.com/" target="_blank"&gt;BirdNote+&lt;/a&gt; to get ad-free listening and other perks. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your &lt;a href="https://www.birdnote.org/about/great-ways-support-birdnote" target="_blank"&gt;tax-deductible gift&lt;/a&gt; makes these shows possible.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Some birds have a finely-tuned sense of rhythm.


Birds Can Keep the Beat

Boreal Chickadees live in the boreal forest year-round. How do they survive the harsh winter? First, during summer, they cache a great deal of food, both insects and seeds. Then in fall, they put on fresh, heavier plumage. And their feathers are denser than most birds', creating a comfy down parka. Most impressive? The chickadees lower their body temperature at night from 108 degrees to just 85 degrees, conserving their stores of insulating fat. Hats off to the Boreal Chickadee, a truly rugged bird!More info and transcript at <a href="https://www.birdnote.org/podcasts/birdnote-daily/boreal-chickadees-stay-home-winter" target="_blank">BirdNote.org</a>. Want more BirdNote? <a href="https://www.birdnote.org/subscribe-email" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for <a href="https://birdnote.supercast.com/" target="_blank">BirdNote+</a> to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your <a href="https://www.birdnote.org/about/great-ways-support-birdnote" target="_blank">tax-deductible gift</a> makes these shows possible.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Boreal Chickadees live in the boreal forest year-round. How do they survive the harsh winter? First, during summer, they cache a great deal of food, both insects and seeds. Then in fall, they put on fresh, heavier plumage. And their feathers are denser than most birds', creating a comfy down parka. Most impressive? The chickadees lower their body temperature at night from 108 degrees to just 85 degrees, conserving their stores of insulating fat. Hats off to the Boreal Chickadee, a truly rugged bird!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;More info and transcript at &lt;a href="https://www.birdnote.org/podcasts/birdnote-daily/boreal-chickadees-stay-home-winter" target="_blank"&gt;BirdNote.org&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Want more BirdNote? &lt;a href="https://www.birdnote.org/subscribe-email" target="_blank"&gt;Subscribe&lt;/a&gt; to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for &lt;a href="https://birdnote.supercast.com/" target="_blank"&gt;BirdNote+&lt;/a&gt; to get ad-free listening and other perks. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your &lt;a href="https://www.birdnote.org/about/great-ways-support-birdnote" target="_blank"&gt;tax-deductible gift&lt;/a&gt; makes these shows possible.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
</description>

How do they survive the cold?


Boreal Chickadees Stay Home for the Winter

In the boreal forest, winter temperatures routinely drop to 30 degrees below zero. Birds that spend the winter in this harsh domain rely on remarkable adaptations to survive. The Spruce Grouse is one such bird. Most Spruce Grouse remain here all year. In the snow-free summer, they forage on the ground, eating fresh greenery, insects, and berries. But in the snowy winter, the grouse live up in the trees, eating nothing but conifer needles. Lots and lots of needles. Because conifer needles are both low in protein and tough to digest, Spruce Grouse grow a bigger digestive system. A grouse's gizzard, which grinds food, may enlarge by 75%!More info and transcript at <a href="https://www.birdnote.org/podcasts/birdnote-daily/spruce-grouse-perfect-boreal-forest" target="_blank">BirdNote.org</a>. Want more BirdNote? <a href="https://www.birdnote.org/subscribe-email" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for <a href="https://birdnote.supercast.com/" target="_blank">BirdNote+</a> to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your <a href="https://www.birdnote.org/about/great-ways-support-birdnote" target="_blank">tax-deductible gift</a> makes these shows possible.

<description>&lt;p&gt;In the boreal forest, winter temperatures routinely drop to 30 degrees below zero. Birds that spend the winter in this harsh domain rely on remarkable adaptations to survive. The Spruce Grouse is one such bird. Most Spruce Grouse remain here all year. In the snow-free summer, they forage on the ground, eating fresh greenery, insects, and berries. But in the snowy winter, the grouse live up in the trees, eating nothing but conifer needles. Lots and lots of needles. Because conifer needles are both low in protein and tough to digest, Spruce Grouse grow a bigger digestive system. A grouse's gizzard, which grinds food, may enlarge by 75%!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;More info and transcript at &lt;a href="https://www.birdnote.org/podcasts/birdnote-daily/spruce-grouse-perfect-boreal-forest" target="_blank"&gt;BirdNote.org&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Want more BirdNote? &lt;a href="https://www.birdnote.org/subscribe-email" target="_blank"&gt;Subscribe&lt;/a&gt; to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for &lt;a href="https://birdnote.supercast.com/" target="_blank"&gt;BirdNote+&lt;/a&gt; to get ad-free listening and other perks. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your &lt;a href="https://www.birdnote.org/about/great-ways-support-birdnote" target="_blank"&gt;tax-deductible gift&lt;/a&gt; makes these shows possible.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Different season, different diet.


Spruce Grouse – Perfect for the Boreal Forest

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