A bird’s normal body temperature is higher than a human’s, typically around 103 degrees. They must eat a lot of food to maintain that temperature especially when the outside temperature is low. Studies show that on in 85 degree summer temperatures a House Sparrow can survive 67 hours without eating. However, in winter temperatures of 5 degrees they can survive for only about 15 hours, or about the length of a long, cold winter night.
Scientists have studied the lowest temperatures that bird can endure. The European yellowfinch can survive temperatures as low as –36C for 24 hours. I can’t.
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