During the cold, gray winter months, any splash of color is a welcomed sight.  Most of the time, these colors are provided by visiting songbirds who stick around throughout the year.  Many people like to help these birds by putting up feeders, but there is a better way... Planting winter berries. Winter berries are trees or shrubs that keep their fruit throughout the winter months.  These plants are the best way to help backyard songbirds (and other wildlife) survive the cold temperatures.  Some species of winter berries keep their leaves, while others just keep their branches and fruit. In 2019, the United States Postal Service honored four species of winter berries on postage stamps:  winterberry, juniper, beautyberry, and soapberry.  The first three are popular winter food sources for many animals.  This includes birds like woodpeckers, quail, robins, waxwings, and catbirds, which normally prefer insects.  When planting winter berries, it is important to identify the shrubs and trees native to your area and choose those.  This reduces the risk of non-native plants out-competing native species.  It will also ensure your berries are equipped to handle your climate. Whether you plant winter berries to help out the birds, or to bring much-needed color to your backyard, they are sure to make you smile despite the snowy weather.