Do birds feel the cold?

Question

There is a blackbird sitting outside my window on a branch. I feel rather sorry for him. I wonder if the snow affects them very much?

Answer 1

various species of birds have developed ways to cope with the cold. Some birds, of course, can't stand the cold at all -- these types are either confined to tropical areas, or they migrate to warmer climates when winter comes.

The ones that do stick it out through the cold periods have specific adaptations to help them through it. First off, most birds have very high metabolism, which keeps their body temperatures up, and consequently keeps them a bit more comfortable than most other creatures would be. They also tend to have a thick layer of fat under the skin, which helps to insulate them from the cold. The types that regularly swim in cold water (penguins, auks, puffins, and certain species of ducks and geese) have so much fat in their bodies that the carcasses can actually be rendered into lard, like a pig.

Moving around a lot also helps. Birds that perch on limbs or wires don't usually sit still for very long when the weather is cold. When they do perch they often "squat down" so that the feathers of the lower body cover the feet, which conserves warmth.

However, none of this is foolproof. Birds do frequently freeze to death, despite their best efforts. It's all a part of the balance of nature -- only the strongest survive.

Answer 2

Yes of course they do that is why they fluff their feathers and why tropical birds like Cockatiels and Parakeets etc die if they aren't kept in warm houses in this country (the U.K.). Rarely however they do survive in the wild, the flocks of Parakeets in Richmond Park, in Battersea Park and on Clapham and Wandsworth commons, but they are a lot smaller than naturally expected and their plumage is a lot darker and duller for it also history has it that these birds escaped from outside aviaries so had acclimatised to their surroundings.

Answer 3

They feel cold but they are well insulated so they can survive.

If you watch birds year round you'll see that the non-migratory birds tend to get real fat before winter, this is to store up energy to keep warm. They also try to stay out of the wind more to prevent loss of heat.

Bird feathers however are very warm, this is why you can find winter jackets that are stuffed with feathers and they are very resistant to wind.

If you really feel sorry for the bird consider buying a bird feeder to feed him so he has the energy he needs to keep warm.

Answer 4

Birds do feel the cold but they are well adapted to the climate and area that they live in. A bird from the desert wouldn't be able to survive the cold in Greenland and visa verse.

Answer 5

They do feel the cold. That's why they tend to hang out on top of chimneys where they get a blast of warm air. But they have ways of keeping warm, like puffing up their feathers to trap warm air along the skin. He's probably doing just fine. Animals in the wild have good survival techniques. It's only when we domesticate them and bring them into a human world that they need us for their survival.

Answer 6

definite, birds sense chilly a useless ringer for quite everyone else. they are able to carry air interior of their feathers which warms and helps preserve their body warmth throughout relax. Birds have an exceptionally quickly metabolism, and ought to devour continuously to stay warmth. in case you are able to, provide wintry climate feed for them in this time. Suet muffins, organic peanut butter blended with seed will be a lot cherished by technique of the birds. :)

Answer 7

yes the birds feel the cold, that's why the migrate to the south for winter

Answer 8

You bet. They feel the cold that's why it's important to feed them fats,proteins and high-energy foods during the cold weather

Answer 9

I'm thinking not, only because if they did, they should be flying south with the other birds,,,,I feel sorry for them as well.

Answer 10

birds do feel the cold ofcourse, theyre warmblooded animals. dont feel sorry, i doubt hes pittying himself ^^