Okay, but how do birds stay warm?
E12. Winter isn’t just “cold” for a bird, it’s a nightly survival math problem: generate enough heat, lose as little as possible, and don’t get eaten while you’re fueling up. In this episode, host Dr. Scott Taylor is joined by Dr. Maria Stager, UMass Amherst, to break down the clever physiology and weird little behaviors that let birds ride out freezing temps, from icy duck feet to “feather puffball” mode to energy-saving torpor.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
How birds keep their feet from freezing
How feathers and shivering muscles act like a built-in winter jacket
How birds manage…
The skinny
The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.