{"id":4495,"date":"2014-12-16T10:55:06","date_gmt":"2014-12-16T15:55:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=4495"},"modified":"2014-12-16T10:56:31","modified_gmt":"2014-12-16T15:56:31","slug":"a-new-coat-for-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/a-new-coat-for-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"A New Coat for Winter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Like us, many animals put on a new set of \u201cclothes\u201d during the colder months. Here are five local creatures that sport different looks in summer and winter.<\/p>\n

American Goldfinch Spinus tristis<\/em><\/h3>\n

When the weather grows cold, people inevitably start asking about all those drab yellow-gray birds that are visiting their feeders. They\u2019ve just discovered the American goldfinch\u2019s secret identity. In autumn the male loses his black forehead and most of his striking yellow color, and the female becomes browner. In both sexes the bill turns from pink to gray. As winter progresses, you’ll see hints of that bright plumage coming back.<\/p>\n

\"\u00a9<\/a>

\u00a9 David Parrish (left), \u00a9 Manjith Kainickara, Flickr user manjithkaini (right)<\/p><\/div>\n

Red Squirrel Tamiasciurus hudsonicus<\/em><\/h3>\n

Shrewd bird feeder watchers will notice seasonal differences in the appearance of this familiar visitor. In summer the red squirrel has dark stripes down its sides, but in winter these features fade and it develops a rich red line\u00a0down its back. The color changes accompany a new thicker coat of fur that includes long ear tufts.<\/p>\n

\"Gilles<\/a>

Gilles Gonthier from Flickr (both images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Common Loon Gavia immer<\/em><\/h3>\n

At the end of the summer breeding season the loon begins a dramatic transformation. It loses the familiar black and white checker-spot pattern and becomes almost unrecognizable in drab grey-white plumage. Also, it leaves its picturesque lake habitat and heads for the sea. It tends to stick close to land, and you can often see a loon\u2014hiding in plain sight\u2014if you visit the coast in winter.<\/p>\n

\"\u00a9<\/a>

\u00a9 Michael Phillips (left), \u00a9 Bruce DeGraaf (right)<\/p><\/div>\n

Snowshoe Hare Lepus americanus<\/em><\/h3>\n

Unlike the more common cottontail rabbit, which is always brown, the snowshoe hare turns white in the winter. It prefers colder spruce-fir forests, and its winter outfit of thick white insulating hairs keeps it warm and hidden from predators. This wardrobe shift is triggered by the length of the day. Unfortunately, if there’s not enough snow, the hare really stands out against the brown terrain, which has scientists worried about this species\u2019 future as the climate changes.<\/p>\n

\"hare\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Short-tailed Weasel Mustela erminea<\/em><\/h3>\n

You may know this animal by the names \u201cstoat\u201d or \u201cermine\u201d. It has a long, thin body and a black tail tip. In the fall it sheds its brown summer coat and gains a thick, soft white one. This helps it blend into the snowy landscape, keeping it hidden from predators such as hawks and owls while it stalks small rodents and rabbits.<\/p>\n

\"Flickr<\/a>

Flickr user bgblogging (left)<\/p><\/div>\n

These are just a few of the many animals that have a different winter look. What other changes have you noticed?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Like us, many animals put on a new set of \u201cclothes\u201d during the colder months. Here are five local creatures that sport different looks in summer and winter. American Goldfinch Spinus tristis When the weather grows cold, people inevitably start asking about all those drab yellow-gray birds that are visiting their feeders. They\u2019ve just discovered […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4495","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nature-notes"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-1av","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5135,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/last-month-in-birding-march-2015\/","url_meta":{"origin":4495,"position":0},"title":"Last Month in Birding: March 2015","author":"Rosemary","date":"April 2, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"We take a\u00a0look back at five\u00a0of March's\u00a0most interesting bird sightings as suggested by our experts. Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) This fast and powerful bird is the largest falcon in the world. It breeds\u00a0in the arctic and irregularly winters farther south, but is rarely seen as far south as Massachusetts. The gyrfalcon\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/04\/GWFG_640x424.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/04\/GWFG_640x424.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/04\/GWFG_640x424.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1334,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/a-seasonal-change-of-clothes\/","url_meta":{"origin":4495,"position":1},"title":"A Seasonal Change of Clothes","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"December 27, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"With the hard work of raising young behind them, many birds shed their tired, worn-out feathers (a process called molting) in winter and replace them with new ones.\u00a0But not all birds make a simple one-for-one swap. Some species turn dull, while others nearly completely flip their plumages. Here are a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2012\/12\/AmericanGoldfinchWinterValerie-Rene%C3%A9Flickr_small.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14969,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-squirrel-away-for-a-rainy-drey\/","url_meta":{"origin":4495,"position":2},"title":"Take 5: Squirrel Away for A Rainy Drey","author":"Ryan D.","date":"November 30, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"With most of the leaves fallen to the ground by now, you may have looked up into the canopy, noticed the occasional ball of sticks and leaves tucked into the branches of large deciduous trees, and thought, \"What enormous bird lives there?\" Believe it or not, you're probably looking at\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American Red Squirrel \u00a9 Sue Feldberg","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/11\/1773SueFeldberg6289.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/11\/1773SueFeldberg6289.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/11\/1773SueFeldberg6289.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/11\/1773SueFeldberg6289.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14039,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/birds-to-look-for-during-bird-at-home-a-thon\/","url_meta":{"origin":4495,"position":3},"title":"Birds to Look For During Bird-at-home-a-thon","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"May 14, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"While this year\u2019s\u00a0Bird-a-thon\u00a0has shifted focus to birding closer to home and around your neighborhood, you can still find\u00a0tons of\u00a0exciting birds. Some birds are common in many habitats, like Northern Cardinals and American Robins,\u00a0but\u00a0here\u00a0is\u00a0a list of other feathered friends you are likely to see (or hear!) in habitats\u00a0across\u00a0Massachusetts along with some\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Get Involved"","block_context":{"text":"Get Involved","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/get-involved\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Burds you can see in an urban setting","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/05\/Urban_photos.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/05\/Urban_photos.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/05\/Urban_photos.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/05\/Urban_photos.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16581,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/this-winter-learn-indoors-and-practice-outside\/","url_meta":{"origin":4495,"position":4},"title":"This Winter, Learn Indoors and Practice Outside","author":"Kelly R.","date":"January 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"New Online Nature Programs This winter, enjoy nature lessons from the comfort of your home, then take what you've learned outdoors to practice! Pour yourself a cup of something warm, grab your fuzzy socks, and tune in with us online to learn about winter birds, stars, animal tracks, plants, weather,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Wood Ducks \u00a9Matt Filosa","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/01\/3417Matt_Filosa23878-750x500-7f642d41-6624-45b5-8ba1-7c03065f4cd3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/01\/3417Matt_Filosa23878-750x500-7f642d41-6624-45b5-8ba1-7c03065f4cd3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/01\/3417Matt_Filosa23878-750x500-7f642d41-6624-45b5-8ba1-7c03065f4cd3.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/01\/3417Matt_Filosa23878-750x500-7f642d41-6624-45b5-8ba1-7c03065f4cd3.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13602,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-winter-foxes\/","url_meta":{"origin":4495,"position":5},"title":"Take 5: Winter Foxes","author":"Ryan D.","date":"February 24, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"As the breeding season for foxes winds down (typically lasting from mid-January through February), females will be seeking dens in which to give birth and raise their young, called \"kits.\" Although both Gray and Red foxes (the two species found in Massachusetts) are nocturnal, it is common to see adults\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Red Fox \u00a9 Tracy Myers","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/02\/2942Tracy_Myers29093.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/02\/2942Tracy_Myers29093.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/02\/2942Tracy_Myers29093.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/02\/2942Tracy_Myers29093.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4495","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/40"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4495"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4495\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4567,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4495\/revisions\/4567"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4495"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4495"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4495"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}