is there any such thing as a bird that hibernates?

Answer 1

Yes. Goatsucker Name given for a family of nocturnal birds of an order Goatsucker that includes, the frogmouth and the oil bird. They are medium-sized birds and are found it in temperate and tropical areas of both hemispheres.

The name Goatsucker is based on an ancient belief that these birds fed on goat's milk by night but their presence near such animals was no doubt due to the insects hovering about them. With their long the, pointed wings, weak feet, and small, wide gaping bills fringed with bristles , goat suckers have been called flying insect traps. Protected by brown, gray, and black coloring, and their lax and fluffy feathers render their flight almost noiseless.

In England goatssuckers are called the Nightjars . The whippoorwill is common in the Eastern United States. Unlike other birds its hibernates during the winter instead of migrating. Its body temperature drops from 102 Fahrenheit 26.5 Fahrenheit, its breathing slows, and its digestion ceases until the return of spring, which brings the insects that constitutes its diet. The larger 12 in. chuck-will's widow is found in the South and the poorwill 7 in. in the West.

Answer 2

There is one bird which is known to hibernate throughout the winter - the common poorwill. This small relative of the nightjar is found in western states of the USA such as California and New Mexico where it inhabits open areas of low vegetation and rocky outcrops.

As a nocturnal hunter of insects, the poorwill would struggle to find enough food to survive during the cold winters. When faced with harsh weather and little food, this unique bird hides away in rocky crevices and hibernates through the winter, emerging in spring when the temperature has risen and more insects are active.

Answer 3

Goatsuckers Do! :)

Hibernates during the winter instead of migrating, Its body temperature drops from 102°F (39°C) to 65°F (18.3°C), its breathing slows, and its digestion ceases until spring brings the return of the insects that constitute its diet.

They are protected by brown, gray, and black coloring, and their lax and fluffy feathers render their flight almost noiseless.

Most of the 70 or so goatsucker species dwell in tropical climes, and their number includes several birds in which the muted males undergo astonishing changes at courtship time.


Name given for a family of nocturnal birds of an order Goatsucker that includes, the frogmouth and the oil bird. They are medium-sized birds and are found it in temperate and tropical areas of both hemispheres. The name Goatsucker is based on an ancient belief that these birds fed on goat's milk by night but their presence near such animals was no doubt due to the insects hovering about them. With their long the, pointed wings, weak feet, and small, wide gaping bills fringed with bristles , goat suckers have been called flying insect traps. Protected by brown, gray, and black coloring, and their lax and fluffy feathers render their flight almost noiseless. In England goatssuckers are called the Nightjars . The whippoorwill is common in the Eastern United States. Unlike other birds its hibernates during the winter instead of migrating. Its body temperature drops from 102 Fahrenheit 26.5 Fahrenheit, its breathing slows, and its digestion ceases until the return of spring, which brings the insects that constitutes its diet. The larger 12 in. chuck-will's widow is found in the South and the poorwill 7 in. in the West.

Answer 4

"The Common Poorwill can slow its metabolic rate and drop its body temperature, going into a hibernation-like state known as "torpor." In periods of cold weather, a poorwill may stay in torpor for several weeks. Although probably not true hibernation, topor allows the bird to go long periods of time without food and can help it survive cold spells when its insect prey would not be active."

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Common_Poorwill.html

Answer 5

Yes.

"The only species of bird known to hibernate is the common poorwill, an insect-eating bird that lives in North America."
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/refpages/RefArticle.aspx?refid=761552980

One bird that does not enter true hibernation, but torpor, is the Broad Tailed Hummingbird:
"A hummingbird of subalpine meadows, the Broad-tailed Hummingbird ranges across the south-central Rockies in summer. It possesses a number of physiological and behavioral adaptations to survive cold nights, including the ability to enter torpor, slowing its heart rate and dropping its body temperature." http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Broad-tailed_Hummingbird_dtl.html

Answer 6

Well, the emperor penguin spends the worst months of winter, standing in the ice, incubating his mates egg, that is tucked into a skin fold below his tummy. Technically, it's probably not hibernation, but it's close.

Answer 7

Goatsucker??? Are you serious?
The only "goat sucker" I ever heard of is the Chupacabra:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chupacabra

Answer 8

None that I ever knew about! Happy Holidays!

Answer 9

I will ask my friend today about it.
All the best.