Avian Behavior Conservancy

The macaw brothers Leo the hyacinth and Luca the greenwing are sitting in post-shower bliss making their lil dinosaur noises back and forth to each other. Leo’s head is *covered* in pin feathers, which are freshly growing in feathers covered in a protective keratin sheath. When wet -or rather, completely drenched- they expose his bumblebee yellow skin, and he looks so silly. It’s crazy how fast he dries out.

During this time, the macaw flock gets extra chickpeas for added protein to support the feathers growth, but it seems like it’s just Leo with the catastrophic molt over here dumping all his feathers W***y nilly.

Many species of birds run a bit hotter than we do. That’s because they have high metabolic rates due to flight being the most energetically taxing of all activities in the animal kingdom. Their basal metabolic rate is higher than mammals to fuel the demand for oxygen and power. Further, their feathers are extremely good at insulation- it’s likely the reason why feathers evolved in the first place. When they need to warm up, they are extremely good at shivering: their pectoral muscles can take up to 40% of their body weight!

I’m more like a little lizard. Put me in all black clothes in parking lot at 85 degrees and I’m finally comfortable. 🥶