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December 21, 2008 04:00 PM

How do birds stay warm in the harsh, brutally cold winter?

And where do they sleep? You'd think they'd blow out of the trees!
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December 21, 2008 05:34 PM
Birds migrate, but there are definitely some that do not. I live in Canada and I frequently see all kinds of birds during the winter in my yard.

Birds that choose to stay in the cold climate during the winter have behavioral and physical adaptations that help them survive. An example of a behavioral adaptation is one called Torpor which is when the metabolism in the bird slows down, the body temperature lowers, and the heart rate reduces to conserve energy.

Birds also grow additional feathers to stay warm, as well as fluffing for better insulation (this creates air pockets between the feathers and skin to retain heat). Birds can also shiver to maintain a temperature of about 106-109 degrees. Huddling/cuddling together also keeps them warm.

They can sleep anywhere from snow drifts (grousse do this) to hallowed out trees. Humans do help with providing bird boxes and such.

Here a link of birds spotted in Ottawa during the winter.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/features/birds/story.html?id=ef527b5f-839b-4444-bcf7-5bb98d86e62a&k=23459


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December 21, 2008 05:44 PM
ok. i give. some birds don't migrate. same thing happens though, the dumb birds die. the ones who figure out how to survive the winter live to perpetuate their smart (or lucky) genes.

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December 21, 2008 04:20 PM
they migrate.

some don't and they die. this is good for their species as they don't pass along their "i'm too stupid to fly south for the winter" genes to next spring's chicks.
Source(s):
http://www.audubon.org/


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December 21, 2008 04:39 PM
funny - and i'd have to agree with you on the second part, but the don't ALL migrate, like cardinals.

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December 21, 2008 05:30 PM
They don't all migrate.

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December 21, 2008 05:29 PM
That's actually not completely true. Pigeons can survive the winter.

They don't necessarily hide in trees. They can hide in corners of buildings, roof tops, gardens, bushes, etc. The birds that don't migrate usually find other birds of the same species to hang out with. They huddle together at night to conserve body heat, frequently on top of buildings which is why you don't see them as often. You can tell pigeons sleep on and near electric converters when you park your car under one for the night :)

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