The easiest way for birds to cool off during summer heat is by bathing, which also helps birds clean and maintain their plumage (Yellow Warbler photo by Paul Konrad).

We all know that water helps us cool off during the hot days of summer, and birds need to release the heat that builds up in their bodies from the sun too. By bathing, birds cool themselves while also cleaning and maintaining their plumage. Even more important is fresh water for drinking. A bird bath filled with fresh water is a bird’s best way to beat the heat. Birds flying over your yard will quickly find a bird bath and birders offer a great service by providing fresh water to quench their thirst and the chance to bathe as a retreat from the heat.

Keeping the water level between 1 and 2 inches deep assures an opportunity for even the small birds like goldfinches, warblers, and buntings to bathe, so keep that in mind when filling your water basin. But also remember that on hot days the water evaporates faster, so it’s important to check the water level regularly to be sure your bird bath is providing a quality drinking and bathing opportunity for local birds and new arrivals.

There are birds that may never visit feeders but might be attracted to your water feature, so offering birds one or more water sources in your yard is a great way to attract and benefit more birds. Whatever type of bird bath or water feature you have, the most important thing to remember is to keep it filled with fresh water.

The sound of moving water will attract more birds, including the little splashes of water splashes that sparkle in the sunlight. Birds have acute hearing and sight, and they will notice the trickling sounds of water from a distance. If you’re interested in adding some extra interest to your bird bath, look into moving water options such as drippers, mini-fountains, or even a decorative pond. These water features will also capture your interest as decorative features in your yard and keep you tuned in to the importance of checking on water levels, especially during hot weather periods of the summer.

The Biology of Cooling

Birds use both physical and behavioral adaptations to beat the heat. There are several behavioral adaptations that birds use to stay cool during hot periods: (1) Birds will reduce their activity level during the hottest part of the day. (2) Birds also seek refuge from the heat by resting in shaded areas. (3) Birds often spread their feathers more during hot periods, including spreading their wings away from their body to let the air cool their skin to reduce their body temperature.

Birds don’t have sweat glands to help them cool down and help regulate their body temperature like mammals, but birds do have physical attributes that help keep them cooler during hot weather: (a) Birds have a rapid respiration rate that helps their body release heat faster through regular breathing. (b) Birds often just open their bill slightly to help the cooling process, although some birds open their bills wider during hot weather. (c) Some birds flutter their throat area when they are hot, an activity called “gular fluttering.” This fluttering action enables them to release body heat through the mucous membranes of their throat, which becomes saturated with flowing blood. (d) Also, bare skin areas in the face, legs, and feet allow more heat to dissipate from a bird’s body to help them cool.

By providing shade trees and bushes, and especially by providing fresh water to drink and bathe in, you are providing important services for birds. And keep alert for new birds that might stop in to utilize water; it’s that time of the season when songbirds are completing their nesting period and beginning to disperse to other areas to find more abundant foods – and water. Then too, what may appear to be a new species may be a recent fledgling that has a different plumage color than the adults you are more familiar with. Keep your field guide handy to double-check the identity, age, and sex of new birds you see, and good luck attracting new and different birds to drink and bathe in your yard throughout the summer.

Much of this article was based on information provided in an insightful article provided by More Birds, which you can refer to at How Do Birds Beat the Heat? – More Birds

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