January-February 2026 • Nebraskaland 55
Bird Calls on Ice
Even when the trees are bare and the landscape is frozen,
Nebraska's winter birds keep singing. Chickadees, cardinals
and nuthatches rely on their calls to stay in touch while
foraging. Since sound waves can travel farther through cold
air, their whistles and chirps can carry over greater distances
than in the summer. Plus, with no dense foliage to block
the sound, their songs can echo across snowy fields with
surprising clarity. If you hear a cardinal's bright, cheerful
call on a cold morning, it may be reaching much farther than
you realize.
Predator Playlist
For hunters who rely on their ears, winter presents
challenges and opportunities. Without rustling leaves and
buzzing insects, it's easier to focus on the subtle sounds of
prey. But the muffling effect of snow means predators must
fine-tune their hearing. Owls have an edge thanks to their
silent flight and disc-shaped faces that funnel sound directly
to their ears. A great horned owl can detect the faintest
scratch of a mouse moving beneath the snow and strike with
pinpoint accuracy — even in total darkness.
Foxes, too, have incredible hearing and are known to make
acrobatic pounces into the snow, guided entirely by sound.
Howling Through the Frost
Coyotes are Nebraska's winter vocalists, their calls
carrying for miles across the frozen plains. In winter, they use
their long-distance howls to coordinate with pack members,
defend territory or even attract a mate. Because sound travels
farther in cold, still air, a single howl can reach animals much
farther away than it would in summer.
Foxes and owls, too, benefit from this extended range,
allowing them to call to mates or warn away intruders over
greater distances.
Winter in Nebraska may seem quiet at first, but it's actually
a season filled with sound — just in different ways. The
frozen landscape creates a world where some sounds travel
farther, while others disappear into the snow.
Animals must adapt to be heard — or stay hidden. Whether
it's the amplified howl of a coyote, the muffled rustling of a
rabbit underneath fresh snow, or the perfectly tuned hearing
of an owl hunting in the dark, winter's acoustic world is
just as alive and active as any other season — if you listen
closely enough.
This white-breasted nuthatch from the Pine Ridge relies on
calls to stay in touch with other birds while foraging.
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
In winter, sound travels farther in the cold so a single coyote
howl can seem much closer than it actually is.
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
