During Winter small flocks of these tricolored birds leave the interior and appear in the eastern states. The impelling motive seems simply wanderlust — not food scarcity or cold. They come and go casually, beyond prediction.
While following a fox trail one cold December day, I heard their clipt cheery notes from a cedar grove. The bright plumage, carefree manners and friendly overtures were a pleasant interlude in the bleakness. While I smoked they inspected and talked me over in the most confidential manner, evidently accepting me as one of the party for they continued their meal of cedar berries quite undisturbed — some coming within hand touch.
Interior of North America, east of Rocky Mountains. In Winter, south to Kansas and Kentucky. East to New England.