How Birds Survive Winter Temperatures

Birds survive our Minnesota winters through physical and behavioral adaptations. The word “adaptation” refers to a particular characteristic that makes a bird better suited to its environment including:
* Feathers which trap and hold warm air. Healthy feathers are critical to survival.
* Fat reserves that provide extra insulation
* Legs and feet typically covered with special scales that minimize heat loss as well as
* Shivering- generates more body heat in severe cold
* Tucking- one leg up at a time as well as tucking their bills under their wings allows them to breath warmer air
* Sunning- turning their body towards the sun to absorb heat
* Roosting- smaller birds ie chickadees will crowd together in a nesting box or tree cavity to conserve heat
*Migration- refers to the seasonal movements of birds from one area to another