A frozen river winds through a snow-covered village, where clusters of figures skate, play, and walk across the ice. The roofs of houses and the branches of leafless trees are thick with snow, their dark outlines standing out sharply against the pale, wintry sky. On the right foreground, a tangle of bare branches frames a gathering of birds, some perched in the trees and others pecking at the ground near a makeshift wooden trap propped up by a stick.

A rope runs from the trap toward a nearby house, hinting at the mechanism that will bring the door down when pulled. Two birds fly high above the village, their dark shapes silhouetted against the muted sky. The composition is carefully balanced, with the busy scene on the ice set against the quiet, watchful presence of the birds and the intricate tracery of the trees.

The paint is applied with fine, precise brushstrokes, especially in the rendering of branches, figures, and the delicate textures of snow and ice. Touches of reddish-brown enliven the landscape, especially in the buildings and some of the clothing, contrasting with the cool whites and greys of the snow. Winter Landscape with a Bird Trap is the work of Pieter Bruegel the Elder, who completed it in 1565. The painting is part of a brief period in which Bruegel depicted several snowy landscapes, establishing a new genre in Western art.

The subject combines everyday village life with a detailed observation of nature, as seen in the lively human activity and the careful depiction of birds and their trap.