Birdy, it's cold outside. But don't worry. Here's why birds' feet and feathers don't freeze in winter weather.
How Do Birds Feet Not Freeze?
When you walk outside in winter, you probably feel the cold immediately. It’s a natural instinct to bundle up with heavy coats, boots, a hat and gloves. Your ears, toes and fingers might hurt and can even get frostbite if they’re exposed to the freezing weather for too long.
If you’re shivering, you might wonder if the other creatures feel the cold too, especially the small birds at your backyard feeders. After all, they don’t have little bird-sized boots or fuzzy socks for their feet.
However, you can rest a little easier. It’s a common myth that birds’ feet will freeze to metal, including perches on feeders.
In general, birds’ feet can endure cold weather thanks to a protective covering—along with veins and arteries that keep their feet warm.
Will Birds’ Feathers Freeze If They Get Wet?
Similarly, if you take a shower and then walk outside on a cold day, your wet hair might freeze. Will this happen to birds? If they hop into a heated birdbath on a day with below-freezing temperatures, will their wet feathers turn into ice after they leave the water? And will their wet feet will freeze to their next perch?
In reality, birds have some unique anatomical qualities to protect them. Water runs right off their scaly feet and waterproof feathers.
Also of note: Birds always appreciate a drink of fresh water from a heated birdbath, but if the temperature is below freezing, they know better than to hop all the way in.
Do Birds Eat Snow?
During icy winters when all available water is frozen solid, birds and other wildlife will eat snow as a source of life-sustaining moisture. However, this costs them extra energy, because some of their body heat goes into melting the snow. As long as they’re eating well, this isn’t a problem. So make sure you keep your feeders filled with quality foods such as peanuts, suet and black oil sunflower seeds.
