Guest blogger the Grumpy Old Birder Weighs In

As a seasoned birder with decades of experience, I’ve heard all sorts of ridiculous questions in my day. But as it goes, this one is not as daft as it first seems. Are birds cold-blooded? My first thought was “Are you kidding me? I swear, some people these days don’t even know the basics of avian biology”. But, I suppose if there are still people out there asking this question, then it’s my duty as the grumpy old birder to set the record straight.

First off, let’s define what we mean by ‘cold-blooded’. In biological terms, this refers to animals that are unable to regulate their internal body temperature and rely on external sources, such as the sun or ambient temperature, to warm up or cool down. These animals are often referred to as ‘ectothermic’. Reptiles are like this… which is why you see lizards and snakes sunning themselves waiting to warm up before they get going, and why reptile species are much more common in the tropics.

Wait a minute, I hear you say, dinosaurs were reptiles and birds came from them so they must be cold blooded too? Wrong! The thing is, some dinosaurs were cold blooded like the stegosaurus, and some hot blooded like T-Rex… no wonder you are confused about birds. Crocodiles evolved from the cold-blooded sort, and birds from the warm-blooded ones.

So, birds are not cold-blooded. In fact, they are the complete opposite. Birds are warm-blooded, or ‘endothermic’, which means they are able to regulate their internal body temperature through metabolic processes, rather than relying on external sources. This is an essential adaptation for birds, as it allows them to maintain a constant internal temperature and remain active in a wide range of environmental conditions.

Birds have a high metabolism, and their internal temperature must remain stable in order for them to be able to fly, forage for food, and carry out other vital activities. If their internal temperature dropped too low, their muscles would become sluggish, their flight would become unsteady, and they would be unable to perform the tasks necessary for survival. On the other hand, if their internal temperature rose too high, they would become overheated, which would also impair their ability to function and eventually lead to death.

So, why do some people still believe that birds are cold-blooded? Well, I suppose it’s because some birds do exhibit what appears to be cold-blooded behaviour, such as basking in the sun to warm up. But, this behaviour is actually a way for birds to regulate their internal temperature and maintain optimal body temperature for activity. When birds bask in the sun, they are increasing the surface area of their bodies exposed to the sun’s rays, which helps them absorb more heat and raise their internal temperature.

It’s also worth noting that not all birds are the same when it comes to regulating their internal temperature. Some birds, such as most passerines and some game-birds, have a relatively constant internal temperature, while others, such as wildfowl and birds of prey, have a more variable internal temperature that changes depending on the time of day or environmental conditions. Regardless, all birds are endothermic, and they regulate their internal temperature in one way or another.

So, there you have it folks. Birds are not cold-blooded. They are warm-blooded creatures that regulate their internal temperature through metabolic processes. I’m tired of having to explain this over and over again, but I suppose it’s my duty as the grumpy old birder to educate the masses. If you still have any questions about avian biology, then I suggest you pick up a book or do the math yourself! Then, the next time you hear someone ask whether birds are cold-blooded, you can now give them a confident and well-informed answer or even just look down your nose and say – warm-blooded… derrrr!