The sounds of spring, but in the depths of winter.

This is Bird Note. You associate most birds songs with spring and early

summer if you live in a temperate climate, birds like the song sparrow and the northern cardinal. But quite a few birds that don't

migrate will keep singing, even just a little bit, right through the coldest time of the year.

These winter singers are mostly asserting ownership of feeding

territories, the same patches of habitat they fought for with much more intense bouts of singing

earlier in the fall. Meanwhile, as early as late January, some resident birds are beginning their spring singing,

especially in the southern states, like this northern mockingbird. Even

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... ... ... ... ... Even as far north as British Columbia, Pacific Wrens are singing in earnest by mid-February.

So the singing season never entirely stops.

When you step outside on a particularly sunny day this winter,

even visitors from the far north, like this fox sparrow, may be warming up for the coming spring.

For Bird Note, I'm Mary McCann. you're