Hi Bird Watchers,
Central New York is in the middle of one of those “Freakin’ Frigid” cold snaps I like to complain about. It’s been bitterly cold since mid-January. While I’m lucky to have a cozy, heated home with running water, I can’t help but think about the birds braving the cold, especially their tiny feet. How do they manage in this icy weather?
This morning, I peeked out from behind my thermal drapes to check on the feeders hanging from the patio roof. My snooping startled at least seven Mourning Doves. I’ve said before in another post called Surprise: Pigs do fly! They’re just disguised as Mourning Doves, but even they must survive these freezing temps.
Later, my one-and-only cardinal showed up, along with some winter goldfinches, dark-eyed juncos, and a giant blue jay who made quite the entrance. I might grumble when they scatter seed everywhere, but I must admit, the blue jay’s bright feathers against the snow look amazing. Staying warm and keeping their energy up is crucial for these winter birds to survive the snow and temperatures below zero. Luckily, birds have developed some impressive strategies to get through the worst weather. Here are a few winter survival moves you might spot out your window or while birdwatching.
Preen and Powder
Preening and powdering for birds is kind of like when women sneak off to the powder room at a wedding while the band is on break. But birds don’t do it for special occasions unless they purposely show up for The Audubon Christmas Bird Count.
Unlike humans, birds use their beaks to clean and arrange their feathers, picking out dirt and bugs and ensuring their feathers are perfectly aligned for flight. Preening also locks the tiny parts of each feather together, keeping water out.
Birds have a little gland near their tail that produces oil. How convenient for them!! When they spread this oil on their feathers, it keeps them soft, flexible, and clean, and helps protect against germs. Interestingly, it’s not just the oil that makes them waterproof. Some birds, like pigeons, herons, and parrots, use a fine powder from special feathers instead. They dust this powder over themselves during preening, which also helps keep feathers clean and somewhat waterproof.
Whether it’s oil or powder, the bottom line is that birds must keep their feathers in top condition, so they fit tightly together and block out water.
The Huddle
Songbirds also bunch together for warmth, slow their metabolism, or hide out in tree cavities and nest boxes to stay safe from the cold and predators. Larger birds will flock together to share body heat, too.
But What About Their Legs and Feet??
Ever wondered how birds keep their legs warm? Are they buying thermal-lined pants at Costco or stocking up on Carhartt wool socks from Tractor Supply? Unlike we central New Yorkers, nature has the birds covered.
Countercurrent Heat Exchange: Arteries carrying warm blood to the feet run immediately alongside veins returning cold blood to the body. It’s like nature’s version of Syracuse University heated sidewalks, except instead of melting snow, it’s keeping bird toes just above freezing. This clever plumbing keeps their feet toasty without wasting precious body heat. Imagine if your winter boots worked like this: warm on the way down and cool on the way back up, with no need for battery-powered socks!
Want to Help Out?
If you want to give birds a hand through winter, try offering high-energy foods like suet, peanuts, and black oil sunflower seeds. Water is important all year, so a heated bird bath can really help. Just keep it clean! You can also provide shelter by setting up roosting boxes or leaving dead trees for birds that use cavities. Planting fruit trees and shrubs can attract species like cedar waxwings (just make sure they’re native plants). If fruit trees aren’t your thing, evergreens are a great option, too!
If you’re not in Central New York, let me know in the comments where you’re birdwatching from. That will help me better serve you with good content. Do you see any birds in your backyard preening and powdering? Let me know in the comments.
Sources:
https://www.audubon.org/magazine/how-do-birds-cope-cold-winter-weather
https://www.fws.gov/story/how-do-birds-keep-warm-winter
https://asknature.org/strategy/preening-waterproofs-feathers
