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Tree swallows squeeze together on a branch to stay warm during a snowstorm. ROOSTING AND CUDDLING
CLAUDIA DAVIDS/READERS' PHOTO SHOWCASE 2016 warmth, small birds such as tree swallows
Similar to people who may cuddle for
crowd together in shrubs, vines and evergreen
trees to share body heat. They can also slow
their metabolic rate to conserve energy.
Cavity nesters, including nuthatches, tit-
mice, and downy woodpeckers, use tree cav-
ities and nest boxes to stay warm. Cavities
and boxes provide protection from the
weather and help birds hide from predators.
Larger birds including American crows
and ring-billed gulls are also known to flock
together for warmth.
As the snow falls, a female red-bellied woodpecker taps a
well-used source for nourishment.
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