Creature features

Red-tailed hawks are large, powerful birds found year-round in Illinois. They have broad wings, a red tail, and a piercing screech often mistaken for eagles in movies. Look for them perched on poles or soaring overhead. They hunt rodents, snakes and birds, diving at speeds up to 120 mph. With eyesight eight times stronger than ours and clear eyelids for protection, they’re built for the hunt. Winter is a great time to spot these raptors in action.

European starlings are glossy, dark birds whose feather color changes with the seasons. Known for mimicry and complex songs, they eat insects, seeds, and fruit. They gather in large flocks that create stunning sky patterns called murmurations. Native to Europe, they were introduced to the U.S. in 1890 and have since spread widely. Though non-native, they remain one of the most abundant and fascinating birds in North America.

Virginia opossums are tropical animals that now live as far north as Illinois, surviving harsh winters despite their thin fur and exposed skin. They often get frostbite and rarely live past three years, but they adapt by rotating between multiple homes, scavenging during the day, and using leaves for insulation. Their diet is varied, and their survival is helped by human food waste. Though winter is tough, these resilient marsupials continue to thrive up north.

The white-breasted nuthatch is a small bird known for hopping headfirst down trees. Males have black caps and females have gray. Their sharp beaks act like hatchets to crack nuts and hunt insects in bark. They stash seeds for later and may hide them with bark or snow. Common in Illinois year round, they love sunflower seeds, peanuts, and suet. Try hanging a feeder near a tree to attract them.

Squirrels are common Illinois mammals, active year-round and known for burying nuts in fall. Tree squirrels like gray, fox and red squirrels are joined by ground squirrels and chipmunks in the squirrel family. Their teeth never stop growing, so they must chew often. Squirrels cache food, sometimes using fake holes to outsmart thieves. They run in zigzags to escape predators and can survive falls from any height by spreading out to glide and slow their descent.

Wood frogs can freeze solid in winter and survive, then thaw in spring and resume life like nothing happened. Found in forests across the U.S. and Canada, they lay eggs in vernal pools. When cold hits, their bodies produce glucose that protects their cells during freezing. In spring, they thaw and return to the pools to breed. This freeze-thaw ability lets them survive harsh winters, even in Alaska.

In winter, darkness comes early, so humans and nocturnal animals like barred owls may be active at the same time. Barred owls don’t build nests—they reuse abandoned ones or tree cavities to raise owlets. With keen eyesight, sharp hearing, and silent flight, they hunt rodents, frogs, fish, and more. Barred owls can instantly crush prey with their grip that can be up to 5 times stronger than a human’s. Their call, “Who cooks for you?” marks their territory.

Crows are often misunderstood but are intelligent, social birds with important environmental roles. They disperse seeds, clean up dead carcasses, and even hold "funerals" to assess danger. Crows recognize human faces, hold grudges, and sometimes give gifts. They gather in huge flocks, especially in winter, and can use scraps as tools to get food. Some, like New Caledonian crows, are among the smartest animals, showing complex problem-solving skills.