It is that time of year when, as a birder, I begin scouring the ground rather than the trees. Most of the migrant songbirds have already moved through Missouri and I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of our common winter residents, most of which feed on or near the ground.
Of course, I am referring to dark-eyed juncos and winter sparrows (white-throated, white-crowned, swamp and fox sparrows, among others). Having summered and bred in Canada or in the mountain corridors of the U.S., they generally arrive by mid October, content to spend the winter across the central latitudes of North America.
Their arrival may not match the grandeur of waterfowl flocks or the occasional influx of irruptive species but their seasonal presence is always welcome and inspirational. We appreciate their company during the cold, gray months of winter, knowing that they, unlike most of us, are free to move on to warmer climes.
See also: Winter Guests
