Why can birds stand on an overhead high voltage transmission line without suffering any harm?

Question

Is it because that
a. their bodies have a very high resistance
or
b.they are connected to earth
or
c.there is no potential difference between their legs

really appreciate if you could provide me with a thorough explanation!
thanks

Answer 1

There's no potential difference! The bird sits on only one phase of the transmission line. If the bird ever comes into contact with TWO phases simultaneously, there will be an explosion of burnt feathers.

Answer 2

It is easy. Third option. No p.d. between legs. Lets explain this. Even line men work on live wires without anything happening to them at low voltages too the order of say 250 V. Because the flux produced doesnot hold their hands intoo any magnetic field nor does it harm. But let him touch two different lines or get earthed he would die on the spot because the circuit/power flows right through him. Hence the birds sitting on same line on a dry day, nothing would happen, but let it rain and their feather touch two different lines even they would die. For your info, no bird perches on HT lines of 11 kV and above as the flux produced is to such a extent that power is forced through a body killing it.

Answer 3

A human or anyone could stand on the wire without being electrocuted. The harm of electrocution only happens when you are touching the ground as well as the the electrical material, such as if you had a conductive metal pole and you were standing on the ground. That's also why rubber soles of shoes protect you from electrocution because as long as the electric cannot get anywhere else but your body it will not 'pass though you' and thus harm you.

Answer 4

One wire Positive the other Negitive and the third wire ground. Now A line man standing in a grounded bucket reaches up and grounds one wire with his hand ZAP! Bird legs can contact only one wire at a time. You just don't notice dead birds laying around where they can complete the circuit. I saw a Barn owl complete the circuit between the 14,000 volt top wires with it's wings power surge then the lights went out one or two seconds. Owl died.

Answer 5

None of the above.
To get a shock you have to be connected across a potential difference. Since the birds are standing on only one conductor, there is no voltage difference to shock them.

Answer 6

it is because they are NOT earthed.

If they could stand on the wire and touch the pylon at the same time they'd be dead birds

An interesting way for a human to kill himself is to direct a hand held jet of water at power lines

Answer 7

because they would have to touch more than one line at a time to get shocked.

Answer 8

both their legs are on the same line & not in contact with earth.

Answer 9

It is because they are NOT grounded.

Answer 10

There body has no soul