Why do birds not electrocuted when seating on a life wire?

Question

Birds stand on life wires, they even pray but do not electrocuted

Answer 1

the circuit thro the bird is not complete. the bird sits on the same wire so the P.D is same. so there is no flow of current. if the air is humid enough to create a short circuit path then there will be a charge discharge thru the bird.

Answer 2

since the bird has both feet on the live wire,the potential difference would be 0.the ''circuit'' is very much complete but there is no potential difference between one end of the bird's body and the other in contact with the wire.if some part of the bird gets into contact with the earth or another wire of a different potential,electrons would flow through its body since a difference in potential is created and electrons flow from lower to higher potential.air is a good insulation but it is sometimes breached if there is an electric field strong enough to cause ionisation of the air molecules between the wires and the ground such as when lightning strikes.thus a route for electrons to flow is created.then the bird would get electrocuted.:)

Answer 3

Electricity, like water, follows the path of least resistance. When a bird is sitting on a wire, the current flows through the wire because making an arc through the bird would be more 'work' than just going through the wire. If you were somehow able to attach a grounding wire to the bird, then get it to land on an overhead line, the current would have a path from the bird through the wire to the ground and - *ZAP* - instant fricasseed chickadee.

Answer 4

Birds DO get electrocuted when they sit on live wires, and happen to make a connection between live wire and earth wire, or the steel pole or cross arm. As long as they do not come in contact with any other wire, they can jolly well enjoy sitting on a live wire.

Answer 5

The circuit is incomplete.For electrocution you need a complete circuit.The Bird sits on one wire only.

Answer 6

They do not get electrocuted when they are sitting on live wires because they are not in contact with the ground.

Answer 7

Only one reason, they are not grounded. There is no flow of the electricity.

Sometimes, a bird will get zapped with no apparent ground. In Florida for example, this sometimes happens. Reason is the same, a ground was established. Sometimes in Florida, it's so densly humid that it's enough to generate a ground in the air itself and the bird gets a jolt. Once that ground is established, it's all over....

Answer 8

the electricity passes through w/o harming the birdy. if the bird had one wing on the wire and the other on something touching the ground it would be cooked.

Answer 9

cause the bird is not touching the ground

Answer 10

it is because they sit on one wire i.e. their both legs are on same potential.
if they somehow touch other wire simultaneously they will get the shock.