Uploaded January 2022 | Updated September 2026, 54 minutes ago
It’s a wonder how birds manage to survive the harsh winter season. Some of which, are extremely tiny causing researchers to scratch their heads in astonishment. In this video, I’m going to go over some of the toughest winter birds of the north and how they’ve adapted to survive. Enjoy
The Willow Ptarmigan is mainly found in subarctic tundra living year-round in places that most other birds can only manage to survive in over the warmer months. This master of camouflage is very well equipped to combat the bitter cold with feathers everywhere, on their eyelids, nostrils, and their feet making it somewhat easier to survive temperatures as low as -40
Although not a small bird, standing on an icy surface or floating in near-freezing water it is hard not to wonder how ducks and other water birds like gulls, can do this without getting frostbite and losing their limbs. How do they do it? Through a system called countercurrent heat exchange in the legs of cold-adapted birds.
The Canada Jay (Gray Jay) is a cold-weather specialist so well suited for winter. Living year-round as far north as Alaska, the Yukon, and Northwest territories, The plumage of Canada Jays is so effective at keeping them warm that they will breed in February and March when conditions are still quite frosty, that’s how tough they are.
The truly remarkable ones are the smaller birds. Like Chickadees. The Black-capped and Boreal live year-round as far north as Alaska. Weighing less than half an ounce, how do such dainty birds survive the harsh winter? Their half-inch-thick coat of insulating feathers helps them maintain body temperatures even when temperatures dip well below freezing. They can also lower their body temperature by as much as 12 degrees, being in a hypothermic state known as torpor.
Redpolls are true survivalists. And can survive temperatures of nearly -65 degrees F. In one day a repoll needs to eat 40 percent of their body weight in seeds to stay alive. They also put on roughly 30 percent more plumage by weight just before winter hits.
One of the toughest birds of winter is the Golden Crowned Kinglet. It’s highly unlikely to see these guys at feeders. How do these tiny creatures survive the long 16 hour winter night of the north? Quite a challenge for a tiny bird that expends so much thermal energy. You'll be surprised to learn that these little ones tough it out every night, shivering and huddling up with others until the next day. Truly a heart-touching thing.
How some of these birds have adapted to survive in such extreme conditions is nothing short of remarkable and humbling.
Do you agree that the Golden Crowned kinglet is a pretty remarkable winter survivalist? Who do you think is a stronger survivor?
I hope you enjoyed it. Happy Birding!
Photos and videos from free use websites:
The individuals' names can be found on their respective photo/video and /or found below (license at the end)
Countercurrent heat exchange diagrams:
by Ekann, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons with modifications made by LesleytheBirdNerd by adding text for added description, under (CC BY-SA 4.0), the diagram itself was not modified.
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Counter_current_exchange_in_birds.svg
at 1:21
Willow Ptarmigan with eye closed by PetraKosonen from Canva.com/pro
Willow Ptarmigan foot by Arnstein Rønning, via Wikimedia Commons under license Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lagopus_lagopus_feet.jpg
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If you have a sick or injured bird in your possession I can not help this bird in any way it is strongly advised to contact a local vet or wildlife official before any decisions are made. It is very easy to do more harm than good when handling any wildlife.
============================================
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please contact Jamie at lesleythebirdnerd@gmail.com
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00:00 Intro
00:35 Willow Ptarmigan
02:04 Ducks
03:52 Canada Jay
05:01 Chickadee
07:26 Redpoll
09:08 Kinglet
#LesleytheBirdNerd #ToughBirds #HowBirdsSurviveWinter
It’s a wonder how birds manage to survive the harsh winter season. Some of which, are extremely tiny causing researchers to scratch their heads in astonishment. In this video, I’m going to go over some of the toughest winter birds of the north and how they’ve adapted to survive. Enjoy
The Willow Ptarmigan is mainly found in subarctic tundra living year-round in places that most other birds can only manage to survive in over the warmer months. This master of camouflage is very well equipped to combat the bitter cold with feathers everywhere, on their eyelids, nostrils, and their feet making it somewhat easier to survive temperatures as low as -40
Although not a small bird, standing on an icy surface or floating in near-freezing water it is hard not to wonder how ducks and other water birds like gulls, can do this without getting frostbite and losing their limbs. How do they do it? Through a system called countercurrent heat exchange in the legs of cold-adapted birds.
The Canada Jay (Gray Jay) is a cold-weather specialist so well suited for winter. Living year-round as far north as Alaska, the Yukon, and Northwest territories, The plumage of Canada Jays is so effective at keeping them warm that they will breed in February and March when conditions are still quite frosty, that’s how tough they are.
The truly remarkable ones are the smaller birds. Like Chickadees. The Black-capped and Boreal live year-round as far north as Alaska. Weighing less than half an ounce, how do such dainty birds survive the harsh winter? Their half-inch-thick coat of insulating feathers helps them maintain body temperatures even when temperatures dip well below freezing. They can also lower their body temperature by as much as 12 degrees, being in a hypothermic state known as torpor.
Redpolls are true survivalists. And can survive temperatures of nearly -65 degrees F. In one day a repoll needs to eat 40 percent of their body weight in seeds to stay alive. They also put on roughly 30 percent more plumage by weight just before winter hits.
One of the toughest birds of winter is the Golden Crowned Kinglet. It’s highly unlikely to see these guys at feeders. How do these tiny creatures survive the long 16 hour winter night of the north? Quite a challenge for a tiny bird that expends so much thermal energy. You'll be surprised to learn that these little ones tough it out every night, shivering and huddling up with others until the next day. Truly a heart-touching thing.
How some of these birds have adapted to survive in such extreme conditions is nothing short of remarkable and humbling.
Do you agree that the Golden Crowned kinglet is a pretty remarkable winter survivalist? Who do you think is a stronger survivor?
I hope you enjoyed it. Happy Birding!
Photos and videos from free use websites:
The individuals' names can be found on their respective photo/video and /or found below (license at the end)
Countercurrent heat exchange diagrams:
by Ekann, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons with modifications made by LesleytheBirdNerd by adding text for added description, under (CC BY-SA 4.0), the diagram itself was not modified.
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Counter_current_exchange_in_birds.svg
at 1:21
Willow Ptarmigan with eye closed by PetraKosonen from Canva.com/pro
Willow Ptarmigan foot by Arnstein Rønning, via Wikimedia Commons under license Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lagopus_lagopus_feet.jpg
Canva.com
canva.com/policies/free-media
Other ways to Support LesleytheBirdNerd
-----------------------------
Merchandise from Spring.com
teespring.com/stores/lesleythebirdnerd
Merchandise from Bonfire.com bonfire.com/store/lesleythebirdnerd
Donate via Paypal
paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=E5GM54J7C28LC
Also, find LesleytheBirdNerd here:
------------------------------------
Facebook Page
facebook.com/LesleytheBirdNerd
instagram.com/lesleythebirdnerd
reddit.com/r/LesleytheBirdNerd
============================================
If you have a sick or injured bird in your possession I can not help this bird in any way it is strongly advised to contact a local vet or wildlife official before any decisions are made. It is very easy to do more harm than good when handling any wildlife.
============================================
For business inquiries or Post Office Box information
please contact Jamie at lesleythebirdnerd@gmail.com
==============================================
00:00 Intro
00:35 Willow Ptarmigan
02:04 Ducks
03:52 Canada Jay
05:01 Chickadee
07:26 Redpoll
09:08 Kinglet
#LesleytheBirdNerd #ToughBirds #HowBirdsSurviveWinter
