Unlike humans, birds do not have sweat glands through which they can expel heat when the body overheats. Birds have other methods of cooling their bodies and preventing overheating in high temperatures. 

 

 

The normal body temperature of a bird is 41 degrees Celsius, which is higher than that of humans. This means that birds can tolerate warm weather better than many people think. However, what a bird tolerates less well is rapid temperature changes. If you move the bird's cage from the air-conditioned room outside into the summer sun, the bird gets a temperature shock. If, on the other hand, it can gradually adjust to the change in climate, there are usually no problems.

 

Similar to a dog, a bird can pant. The rapid breathing ensures that cooler air enters the lungs and warmer air escapes from the lungs and thus from the body. If a bird is sitting on the perch in summer with its beak open and breathing rapidly, it is probably trying to cool its body. If necessary, you can help the bird and move it to a cooler place.

 

 

In addition to breathing, a bird can fluff up its feathers if it gets too warm. The fluffed feathers allow cooler air to reach the skin and release body heat. In extreme heat, a bird spreads its wings to increase the surface contact of the skin with cooler air.

 

What you can do to help the bird in the heat

 

The cage should always be at least partially in the shade, never completely in full sun. A place next to a window heats up too much in summer. The cage should also not be placed directly next to or above a radiator.

 

The bird should always have a bowl of fresh, cool water to bathe in to cool it down. You can also spray it with a spray bottle until the feathers are damp. 

 

If the room in which the bird is kept heats up too much in summer, you can put a fan in it. Set the fan to a gentle breeze and only point it at one part of the cage so that the bird can decide for itself when it wants a breeze.

 

Always look out for signs that the bird is getting too warm and react accordingly if you notice that it is not comfortable in the temperature.