<< Back What is this robin doing to keep warm and dry during a snowstorm? Journey North's robin expert, Laura Erickson, says: During storms, birds try to get as sheltered as they can. Like this robin, they take shelter by bushes buildings, or trees. (No nests! Nests are not shelters, but only cradles for baby robins.) What do you notice about the robin's feathers? The bird fluffed his feathers to protect himself from the cold. This fluffiness is important. It insulates the bird’s internal organs so they stay at 104 degrees F. feathers themselves are such good insulators that the outside of the feather is cold, like the air. But just a few millimeters under the feathers, the bird's body is a cozy 104 degrees. Snow doesn’t melt on cold feathers, so the feathers stay dry. What about the feet? A bird’s feet don’t have much blood flow. Still, birds fluff their belly feathers to help cover the toes and keep them warm. Photo John Deignan BONUS: If it's 6 degrees outside, what is the temperature difference between the air and the bird’s heart and lungs? Answer: Almost 100 degrees! (104 degrees - 6 degrees = 98 degrees.) Now you see the importance of those fluffed-up feathers! This Season Teachers Kids Orientation Registration Search Copyright 1997-2009 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Questions or comments? Contact us.