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Check PriceHave you ever looked out your window on a cold morning and spotted what looks like a giant cardinal? Those cute little birds puffs out their feathers for more than just the cold. Birds have very interesting reasons for doing this and knowing these will help you improve your backyard habitat for them all winter long.
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How Puffing Functions Like a Natural Down Jacket
As the temperature decreases, birds will instinctively go and begin fluffing out the feathers of their coats. The reason for this is the creation of small air pockets between the feathers of the coat. This trapped air works as a form of insulation much like the down filling you may find in a winter coat. With just a few adjustments, birds can increase their insulation by 2 to 3 times the normal amount.
Here is how it works: birds have two different feather types that work together. The outer feathers give structure and protection from wind and moisture. The inner down feathers, which are soft and fluffy, trap warm air close to the skin. When birds puff up, they are pulling those contour feathers away from the body to allow for more air to settle around the down layer.
This system is exceptionally effective. By making use of this insulation system, a chickadee, which weighs less than half and ounce, is able to survive overnight temperatures below zero. The air that is insulated between a bird's feathers is warmed, and this results in the bird using less energy to keep its body temperature at 105-108°F.
When it is very cold in the morning, you may be able to notice some behaviors in birds as they first come out of their nighttime roosts. In the morning, they have their warmest puffiest jackets on. As the day begins to warm up, they can shed their jackets for easier flight and foraging.
Other Reasons Cardinals and Finches Puff Up
Birds fluff up for almost all temperature regulation reasons among many other possibilities. If you look closely at the birds in your backyard, you will observe fluffs in behavior that don't relate to keeping warm.
Relaxation and comfort: As the bird relaxes, it puffs its feathers out. Take a look at the picture and visualize a peaceful, mildly warm day. Picture a cardinal that has settled in for a long relax, & has fluffed its feathers out. This shows that the bird feels at ease and safe.
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Drying off: After getting wet from the rain, snow, or from a bath, birds will fluff up their feathers to dry faster. Then they reorganize the layers of their feathers. You may also see them shaking vigorously and preening to restore the waterproofing and structure of their feathers.
Energy saving during sleep: Birds can enter sleep mode at their nightly roosts and puff up a significant amount, even when it is warm. This allows them to remain warm as the body stops metabolizing as actively. Small birds such as finches and sparrows are able to lower body temperature a slight amount during sleep to help conserve energy.
Some birds, especially during breeding seasons, will put puffs of feathers on their chests or heads to look bigger and more frightening to their territorial opponents. Even in winter, a male cardinal will puff his crest and breast feathers when another male challenger approaches his territory.
When you comprehend these various situations, you gain the ability to interpret the actions of the birds in your backyard, leading to an increased admiration for the intricacies involved in what may appear to be a straightforward reaction to chilly weather.
In What Situations should You Help Puffed-Up Birds
Although puffing is typical, healthy winter fluffing and signs of illness or distress are different. Knowing the difference is important to determine when birds require assistance.
Birds that are healthy and alert will show signs such as being responsive and active with feeding. Bright eyes will react to movements and possible threats. Even when they are fully puffed up in the cold of the morning, they still show good posture and move around with purpose.
A bird that is sick or stressed will provide a different message. Be on the lookout for the following warning signs:
- Extreme lethargy: The bird stays fluffed up and stationary for long periods of time, displaying decreased interest in eating and/or interacting with their environment.
- Birds that sit with their eyes closed during the day may be unwell.
- Ground sitting: Percher birds that are instead sitting on the ground and looking puffy and lethargic are in trouble.
- Labored breathing: Look for the tail bobbing up and down with each breath or an open beak while the animal is resting
- A bird that doesn't fly or escape when you come close is probably too weak to fly.
If you see these signals, your first step is to check your feeding stations. Are the feeders clean? Is the food fresh and free from mold? Dirty feeders spread disease to all animals that visit the stations. Also, make sure that the water sources are thawed and accessible. When it is cold, stress from the cold can make any dehydration the animals are suffering from even worse.
If you find a sick bird, please do not try to take care of it yourself. It is best to reach out to a wildlife rehabilitator because they are allowed to take care of sick birds. Wild birds require special permits to work with in most states, and a rehabilitator would have the proper training and knowledge to take care of the bird as needed.
Ways to Help Puffed-Up Birds This Winter
With your help, birds can get through the winter. The following simple steps will help give birds, and other wildlife in the area, resources to survive the winter, and will help wildlife use the resources more efficiently.
1. Stock feeders regularly: Winter birds depend on consistent food sources. Provide food that is high in energy such as oil sunflower seeds, suet, and peanuts. The fat and protein help birds maintain the body condition necessary to survive the cold nights. Refill feeders prior to dusk so that the birds can save up before they go to roost.
2. supplying fresh liquid water: water can be harder to find than food during the winter seasons. a heated birdbath or a birdbath heater can also be used to keep water accessible. birds require liquid water in order to clean feathers which is critical for the feathers to insulate properly.
3. Construct shelter alternatives: Dense evergreen shrubs, brush piles, and roosting boxes provide birds places to escape wind and retain heat during the night. Even a well-placed evergreen wreath can serve as emergency shelter during harsh weather conditions.
4. Planting native trees and shrubs attracts insects and provides food sources (including berries and seeds) and shelter. Leaving the seed heads of native perennials during winter provides food and habitat for insects that birds rely on for food during winter.
5. Keep feeding stations clean: The spread of disease occurs rapidly at feeders and is especially harmful when birds are stressed due to the cold. Every two weeks, clean feeders with a diluted bleach solution and rake up any leftover food from below the feeders. To prevent pathogenic diseased birds from spreading to other birds, rotate feeders to other locations throughout the seasons.
Small changes can have a large impact! A cardinal that has to spend fewer resources searching for food or water is able to store some warmth for the night instead! These charming \"puffballs\" will continue to thrive and stay comfy in your yard all winter long with the right changes. Happy birding!
