How do birds handle severe cold and snow?

When we experience a sudden drop into frigid temperatures, it can be concerning for people and wildlife alike. It is true that some birds handle arctic blasts better than others; however, when it comes down to it, birds are much more adept at surviving the cold than we are.

The Lapland Longspur breeds in the Arctic tundra, only venturing south in the wintertime (photo by Phil Brown).

Avian biology is incredible. By fluffing up, birds create insulating layers of air and feathers, which traps heat and keeps their bodies warm. They might even tuck up a leg or, if they have long necks, tuck their bill under a wing. Birds’ bare legs and feet are primarily tendon and bone, which are not delicate tissues as susceptible to frostbite as human fingers and toes. Species that stand on ice for long periods, like geese and gulls, utilize regional heterothermy (a sort of countercurrent heat exchange created by blood vessels grouped together near the top of the leg), so their feet may drop to near freezing temperatures while their core stays toasty.

Birds often also use a combination of strategies to survive cold snaps, which might seem familiar:

  1. They take shelter. Birds may perch on whichever side of the tree is protected from the elements, hunker down in cavities, or hang out in brush piles.

  2. They group up. Flocks of hundreds or thousands might roost together to stay warm. The more the merrier!

  3. They eat more. Some birds fill up in the fall to fuel a long migration, while others build up fat stores or food caches and plan to stay put. Many continue to eat high-fat food in the winter to maintain their metabolism.

Read how a few bird species deal with winter in this Audubon article.


Worried about birds during inconsistent weather patterns? Here are a few ways to help:

  1. Plant native plants. Some are important sources of food. Others, like native evergreen shrubs and trees, are a covered place to tuck into during inclement weather.

  2. Provide natural shelter. Building a brush pile or leaving dead trees and snags in place (when safe to do so) can be a refuge for wildlife.

  3. If you have winter feeders, properly maintain them. Birds may flock to feeders when they sense an incoming storm, so keep yours clean and filled with fresh food.


As always, if you find a bird you think might be sick or injured, be sure to contact a wildlife rehabber. They can advise you on the best steps to take, based on the animal’s condition:

 

Have a question you’d like answered? Email us!

Cover: A Dark-eyed Junco perches on a snow-covered branch (photo by Kaitlin Svabek).