Ask a Birder: How do birds stay warm in winter, especially in cold climates?

In this new series, we aim to answer questions that ornithologists and birders tend to get asked. If you have a question you would like to be answered in this series, please contact us or put your question in a comment on this post.

Winters may be tough, but birds that stay through the winter are tougher. We sit in our warm homes and wonder how our local birds can survive the cold winds and snow.

Birds have adaptations, which help them cope with the wintery weather. Their feathers are the main reason they do so well. As the days grow shorter and winter approaches, some birds grow extra fathers. The outer contour feathers help keep out moisture. The inner down feathers, like the filling inside our coats, act as insulation. As a bird settles for the night, it will fluff up its feathers. The air that is trapped within the feathers also helps to keep them warm. The bird will crouch over its feet and bury its bill in its back feathers. Tucking itself in like that prevents vulnerable body parts from being chilled or letting valuable warmth escape.

Some birds, like bluebirds, will huddle together in their roosting spot, sharing their warmth. Black-capped chickadees will lower their body temperatures at night to save energy. In the morning, they will shiver to bring their body temperature back to normal. Birds will take shelter in evergreens, bushes, under eaves, in abandoned buildings, and in holes. Woodpeckers have roost holes, where they spend the night out of the cold. Sometimes, chickadees will share an abandoned woodpecker hole or a birdhouse for the night. In the morning, they will come out of the hole, looking rumpled.

Also, birds need high-energy food to stoke their metabolisms. They look under tree bark for insects or find berries in bushes. The days are shorter, so they need to forage efficiently. One way they do this is to travel in a flock. There are more eyes to look for food sources and to watch for predators. That means the birds save energy and time.

These are some of the ways that birds have learned to cope with frigid weather and survive.

Cover photo: Black-capped Chickadee by Larry Doucet, taken from Pixabay