Friends of Murphys Point Park

These cute little birds are plump with a short tail and long bill along with a beautiful blue-gray back and rusty orange underside. They are always cheery and a treat to see in the winter! You may see them dextrously scaling up and down trees or hear their call which sounds like nasal laugh! They prefer conifer forests so watch for them around areas with lots of pine trees. They are found in the park year round but are typically more conspicuous in the winter, especially in years with lots of cones like this year!

Another beautiful winter bird around here is the Evening Grosbeak. These large, chunky birds can be mistaken for a large goldfinch from a distance but up close you will notice the giant bill and striking colour difference between their white wings, yellow body, brown head and yellow head stripe. They often travel in large flocks with both males and females. Females have the same pattern as males but have more muted colours. This species had declined for years but has surged in the last couple of years in response to increases in their summer food, spruce budworms.