During hot weather, it is not uncommon to see birds lying on the ground sunbathing. They will fluff up their feathers and spread either one or both wings out from their body.
Alternatively, they may stand with their back to the sun, with their wings drooped and tail spread. Sometimes they hold their head to one side and look directly at the sun with one eye.
They may either stay in one position for some time or adopt different positions to expose different parts of their bodies to the sun.
Birds usually sunbathe in open areas as the point is to catch as many rays as possible. They will often use dust baths, or you may spot one prone in the middle of your lawn.
Over 50 species of birds have been observed sunbathing. In the UK, robins, dunnocks, and in particular blackbirds, are just a few garden birds that regularly exhibit this behaviour.
Sunbathing, otherwise known as basking or sunning, doesn’t help birds top up their tans. Neither does it help them cool down as some people think. Lying out in the open sunshine with as much of their body exposed as possible will actually have the opposite effect.
There are several theories about why birds sun themselves. On cooler days or in the early morning, birds may sun themselves to keep warm, taking advantage of the solar radiation to maintain their body temperature without expending energy from food.
However, on hot, sunny days, it is thought that birds sunbathe for two main reasons, both of which are related to the health of their feathers.
Lying in the sun helps with feather maintenance which is known as preening. Preening keeps feathers in good condition, which helps with insulation and keeping birds warm, efficient flight, and attracting a mate.
As fully grown feathers are essentially dead, it is vital that birds have a way to protect and lubricate them. Preen oil is a special substance that is secreted from a gland near the base of the tail, and it keeps feathers moisturised, flexible, and strong, so they do not break in flight.
When birds sunbathe, the heat from the sun helps spread the preen oil around the bird’s body and along its feathers. It is though that in some species, sunning can also help birds synthesise some of the compounds in preen oil into Vitamin D, which is then absorbed through the skin or ingested during preening. Preen oil also has antibacterial and insecticidal properties, essential for keeping a bird healthy.
Sunbathing also helps get rid of any lice or parasites that may be living amongst the bird’s plumage, which can carry disease or even destroy feathers. The heat helps dislodge the parasites, so they can be more easily removed by the bird using its beak.
Sunlight may also kill some parasites and their eggs, either by exposure to UV radiation, or by desiccating them, that is, drying them out until they die.
A study published in 1995, showed that sunlight could heat birds’ wings up to about 70°C in a relatively short period of time, which is a high enough temperature to kill lice and other bugs that can parasitise birds.
Many birds will sunbathe after bathing to help their feathers dry more quickly so they can fly without being weighed down with excess water. Cormorants, for example, can often be seen with their wings spread wide and backs to the sun drying their feathers, rather than for thermoregulation.
And some may even sunbathe simply for pleasure, and to enjoy the sensation of the heat of the sun on their bodies.
When birds sunbathe, they often look as though they may be sick or injured, but this is unlikely to be the case. As their body temperature rises, they may pant or open their mouths to try and regulate their temperature and although this can be concerning, it is perfectly normal behaviour.
Because birds sunbathe in exposed places, they can be vulnerable to predators, so if you have cats or other pets keep them out of your garden. Keep a bird bath or shallow dish topped up with fresh water so that bird can cool down after sunbathing.
5 Responses
A group of up to 50 jackdaws land in a big local tree nearby and all face the west, usually in the afternoon. What is going on?
I have fake grass next to my pool and the minor birds love to bake in the sun. Often we have up to 15 at once doing their little wiggle dance before settling.
Had about 20 little birds sunning in my garden bed. There is a big bird bath we fill up everyday so I think they may have been all bathing prior to doing this.
Very cool info
That some birds do sunbathing to ease digestion
Wow! Never knew this. Had to keep the dog away from a black bird that was sunning itself on our lawn. Thought it was hurt but when I wnet out it had gone. Now I know it was just catching some rays!
Don’t think it got a tan but you never know.