Ink and colors.  Growing by the side of the granite cliff, bamboo and brambles are bent under the weight of heavy snow.  A pair of mountain birds are perched upon the frozen branches, leaning into and depending upon each other in the all-enveloping cold.  The artist's signature, Ma Lin, is seen in the lower right corner.  The entire work is brushed in light inkwash for an effect of wintry darkness, the brushwork is excellent, the rendition of this scene in nature is life-like and full of lively interest.

In the upper left-hand is a couplet written by the Emperor Ning-tsung (r.1195 - 1224):

Sparse branches hide their colours
Gather wings cannot stop the chill.

This is followed by an oblong seal bearing the hexagram "Kun-kua"