Gimme Shelter: How Do Birds Survive A Snow Storm?

Birds are incredibly resourceful in the face of severe winter weather.

With winter approaching, many people are bracing for freezing temps and potential blizzards that can keep them indoors for days. But how do birds survive those same storms? The answer is threefold: Location, preparation, and adaptation.

Shelter in Place

When bad weather hits, birds generally seek shelter in microhabitats, such as inside a thick hedge, or on the downwind side of a tree鈥攊n this case, being petite has its advantages. Hunkering down in these spots can protect them from wind, rain, and even cold (it鈥檚 warmer closer to the ground). Birds that nest in cavities, including woodpeckers, bluebirds, and chickadees, can also hide out in their tree holes.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know to what extent the birds actively pause and say, 鈥榠t feels a couple of degrees warmer here鈥,鈥 says 约炮视频鈥檚 field editor Kenn Kaufman, 鈥渂ut whether it鈥檚 instinctive or a conscious choice, they are definitely making moves to be in sheltered spots.鈥

Some birds will even wander several miles looking for adequate shelter and reliable food sources. Dense evergreens, spruces, or junipers provide better cover than the bare branches of a deciduous tree in winter. This helps keep the ground underneath pines snow-free, and gives birds a place to forage for food, too.

Beef Up in Advance

Fat birds have a better chance of surviving a storm. When birds sense changes in air pressure (a sign of brewing bad weather), they tend to forage more, or flock to feeders, says Kaufman. When the first significant snowstorm hit Ohio this month, the number of American Tree Sparrows in Kaufman鈥檚 yard soared from one lone bird to over 70 crowding around a feeder.

鈥淵ou can see they are just out there feverishly stuffing their faces,鈥 he says. 鈥淭hey can survive really cold temperatures as long as they get enough to eat.鈥

Evolution鈥檚 Got Their Backs

Birds have also evolved to withstand bad weather. Their lanky legs and little feet have what are called counter-current circulation. Birds have cold blood in their feet, which means very little heat is lost when they are standing on cold ground.

鈥淭he counter-current circulation is why you can see a bunch of Herring Gulls standing on the ice,鈥 says Kaufman. 鈥淭hey aren鈥檛 jumping around and shivering because they are well adapted to that.鈥

Their feathers are the perfect insulation鈥攖hey are basically natural down jackets. The down feathers underneath a bird鈥檚 contour feathers trap air, holding in the warmth from its body and preventing cold air from reaching its skin. Birds that winter in cold climates also don a thicker plumage in the winter, which they then molt in the fall and spring.

So, while we cozy up with our hot chocolates this weekend, there鈥檚 no need to worry about the birds鈥攖hey are well-equipped to survive the ensuing tempest.