How Do Birds Stand the Heat?

 

Patrick_K59, CC BY 2.0
<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>,
 via Wikimedia Commons

I don't know about you, but it is way to hot for me. How do the birds stand it?

First of all, birds already maintain high body temperatures, so the ambient heat in this 100 degree weather isn't all that far from the temperature they usually maintain (106 -109F). So when it gets hot outside, they reduce their metabolic rate, since they don't need the energy to keep themselves warm. 

But sometimes they do get too hot. Since birds can't sweat, they have other adaptations to keep from overheating. You have probably seen pictures of birds "panting"  as seen in this photo (not one of our birds). This allows for some evaporative cooling. 

You will notice birds usually don't have feathers on their legs. Obviously, some birds wade or spend time swimming in the water. Bird baths are also helpful, so be sure to keep your bird baths full for a cool drink and a nice bath. Even a warm bath will cool down the bird as the water evaporates.

Evaporative cooling can also be achieved in some other ways. Some birds will defecate on their legs. The water in their waste cools their legs when it evaporates. Not very appealing to us, certainly, but it works.

Birds are generally more active in the morning and evening, all year around. This is especially true in the hot summers, when they stay in the shade and move as little as possible. People are not the only ones who take a siesta!

Good birding!