Encyclopaedia of Birdcare

Winter Visitors

Birds which are found in a particular area only during the winter, and do not breed there. Places with relatively mild winters, such as Britain, play host to many winter visiting birds from colder regions, such as northern and eastern Europe. In some cases the species concerned breed only rarely, or not at all, in Britain, as with Fieldfares or Bramblings, but northerly populations of many British breeders move south in winter, so that a Blackbird seen in a garden in January could have bred locally, or it might be a winter visitor from further north in Britain or perhaps from Scandinavia. See also summer visitors, migrants and residents for the complete picture.

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A Bird On! Definition from the Encyclopaedia of Birdcare
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