How Do Sparrows Survive the Winter? A Full Breakdown of Their Wintering Methods

The genus Passer consists entirely of small birds, whose size and body color are very similar. Generally, the upper body is mottled brown and black, which is why they are commonly called sparrows. Sparrows are one of the most common birds we see. So how do sparrows survive the winter?

How do sparrows survive the winter?

Sparrows are resident birds, and their feathers serve to maintain a body temperature as high as 40-42 degrees Celsius. Once winter comes, they fluff up, trapping a lot of air inside, which gives them a special insulating function. Before winter they store up food, and during winter they still forage every day, only eating their stored food when they cannot find any. In winter they are less active and eat less, foraging by day and returning to the nest at night.

In fact, there has been much discussion about whether sparrows are migratory or resident birds. Sparrows are in fact resident birds.

What are resident birds and migratory birds?

The habit of birds changing their living areas with the seasons is called migration. Based on whether birds have migratory habits, people divide them into resident birds and migratory birds. Some birds live in their breeding area all year round and have no migratory habit, such as magpies and sparrows; these birds are called resident birds. Some birds change their living areas with the seasons each year, often laying eggs and raising chicks in one area and overwintering in another; these birds are called migratory birds. The migration of migratory birds follows a pattern, usually twice a year: once in spring and once in autumn.