birdsoup

Cold Temperatures Arrive Winter has been unusually warm so far but today colder temperatures have arrived with even colder temperatures on the way. Time to break out the winter coat, hats and gloves. Birds can’t don heavy clothing. So they make other changes to conserve heat on cold days. First, birds have more feathers in winter than in summer. And, if you ever had a down-filled coat, you know feathers make wonderful insulation. Birds fluff up their feathers to trap layers of air between feathers providing greater insulation. On a cold day a chickadee may look twice as fat as on a warmer day. Unlike many animals, birds do not have any exposed fleshy parts such as ears, tails or legs that lose a lot of body heat. Ducks have extra layers of fat to provide insulation. When perching, a bird may stand on one leg and tuck the other foot into its belly feathers. Some birds bury their horny beak into feathers to save heat. Shivering is another short term adjustment to cold that converts muscular energy into heat. However, the lost energy must be soon be replaced by eating.