I like the "eggplant" suggestion. I know a lot of people don't like purple, but I do. Also, you can change the color of the applique if you want--make a different color bird or change the leaves to fall colors--anything goes. It's your project, after all.

Grays, blacks, charcoall, and charcoal browns and values thereof. It would feel even more wintry

I would think creams pale beige tans ecru....would look good and still have the center motif show up well.

greens, pinks, lavender & purples.

Really you could change it our to whatever shades are your favorites.

Use your favorite color if this project is for you.

What colors do you like? I think if you go with a light enough version of your favorit colors, this will become your favorite quilt ever. I love anything with birds on it. Can't wait to see what you do with it.

Bright pink or limr green. Maybe red.

Why not do it in yelllows or greens or oranges mauves browns I think you could do it with any color of choice even inreds the only thing is you may have to change the bird..

since this is suppose to be a winter sort of thing I would think shades of light gray through black would look great in the back ground with the freshness of the other colors on top to make them stand out really well.

Ditto.