South Vermont News

Brrr, it's cold out there! Ever wonder how birds stay warm in winter months? Birds have all kinds of special adaptations for living in cold climates. 

Birds have much higher metabolic rates and burn a lot of energy to stay warm. All cold-climate birds pack on body weight in the late summer and fall in anticipation of winter. A steady supply of food is essential in the winter too. Birds also shiver, just like people, to stay warm! 

Feathers are also key for a bird's winter survival. All birds stay warm by trapping pockets of air around their bodies. Clean, dry and flexible feathers help maintain these layers of air. The cleaning process is better known as preening. Some cold-tolerant birds produce a special oil from a gland at the base of their tails that is used to weatherproof their feathers. Together, preening and weatherproofing helps birds to keep a water-resistant top layer and a toasty warm inner layer. 

Lastly, and maybe the most interesting way birds keep warm is by tucking their feet and bills. Waterfowl species circulate blood through a countercurrent heat exchange and isolate the blood that flows in their legs rather than circulating it throughout their whole body. Many ducks, geese, pelicans, gulls and swans will stand on one foot or lay down as this adaptation works. Birds also have specialized scales on their feet and legs that help minimize heat loss.

Original source can be found here.