The outdoor thermometer said -20 F (-29 C) when I went out to get the newspaper this morning. No birds and no squirrels at the feeders, nothing is moving in the backyard except the remaining leaves and branches on the trees. There is a -35 to -40 F windchill today that has closed some schools. Tough conditions for a California-raised girl to tolerate.
There wasn’t much sunlight to bask in, but Mrs. Red-bellied Woodpecker tried to huddle next to the tree for warmth(?). This photo was taken yesterday when the temperature was only -3 F.
As I am writing this post, the sun finally hit the feeders and a few brave Juncos ventured out to feed. So, I guess they get the award for most cold-tolerant birds of the backyard (or the hungriest). I suspect the chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers stay tucked into their nocturnal roosts and feed off their stored larders in this kind of weather.
In a stiff wind at -20F, this is one tough bird.
Back Yard Biology 
Where do you live to be that cold? We’re to have high of 2 with a stiff wind (in southern Illinois). They do look all warm and cozy with the fluffed feathers.
I read that Minneapolis has the 8th coldest average low temperatures in the continental US. I actually live in St. Paul, but close enough. The coldest sites are in North and South Dakota, so I guess we are better off than some.
I guess we’re real lucky!
I can’t believe we endured 53 days of this last winter. I never got used to it. I’m hoping this is just a minor cold blast and will move on (maybe to the east) next week.
It sounds so confining. I’m not inclined to brave the cold cold, like I did when I was younger.
So right. I do get sort of stir crazy cooped up indoors in this winter.
It is hard for me to imagine those sort of temperatures. It is a tribute to the birds that they can survive in these conditions. Amelia
Indeed it is. I marvel at how they manage at these temperatures, especially when there really isn’t much food available except at feeders.
Yesterday I saw the biggest flock of robins I’ve ever seen stripping the fruit off a row of crabapple trees. It was extremely cold at the time and the crabapples must have been frozen.
Well at least the robins won’t be getting drunk on fermented fruit at those temperatures.
Okay…so I won’t complain about the low teens here in Georgia…
Now that would be a pleasant heat wave here. Enjoy your warmth! 😊
Yikes. Those temperatures are insane. It’s amazing that anything can survive in that cold, including humans. Stay warm, Sue!
I totally agree. I was a supposed expert on small birds tolerating cold challenge in my professional years, but being out in this weather is a lot different than studying it from a laboratory perspective. I am usually parked right next to my cozy, gas fireplace in the sun porch, watching the wildlife from my windows.
The birds look very cosy. I think they’re enjoying having the garden to themselves in the cold.
I’m not sure about the enjoying part–it’s too cold to enjoy the backyard much right now.