How do Birds Sleep?
Most of the time when you see birds, they´re flying around, chirping, eating food, splashing in the water, and being very busy. How about when they run out of steam? How do birds sleep, and how do they keep from falling off of branches?
Here´s the inspiration for this article - a downy woodpecker fluffed up and resting at the side of my suet feeder. He wasn´t hungry, he just sat there for quite a while, taking a nap. His little feet clung easily to the side of the tree.
Most birds sleep at night, although there are some, like owls that sleep during the day. Birds have to be very light sleepers, because even at night there are predators that would love to gobble them up for a snack.
Some birds sleep resting on a branch, while others find a nest or birdhouse to sleep in. Birds don´t "lock" their feet into position - they actively hold onto the branch, semi-aware of their surroundings. Some birds can even close one eye for a while and rest part of their brain, then shift eyes to rest the other part.
Most birds take short naps during the day, as well. This helps them get through the night withough a long, sound sleep.
While the phrase "with its head tucked under its wing" is common, birds don´t actually put their heads beneath their wings. When they wish to rest their neck muscles, they will turn their head around to face behind them and rest their head down in the feathers of their back, nuzzling it in a little.
The next time you see your bird friends in flying motion, think of the other half of their lives that they spend in naps, catching up on rest!
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