As you drive around the countryside, you might see hundreds of birds sitting on power lines or telephone wires. Have you ever wondered why birds sit on power lines?
Primarily, birds will sit on power lines because it gives them an uninterrupted view of the world below. If they’re foraging for food, it’s the best vantage point because their view is not obscured by tree branches or foliage.
Additionally, sitting on a power line also gives the birds an extra benefit of warmth as power lines are usually a little warmer than the surrounding air, especially when the weather is cold.
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Why Do Birds Sit on Power Lines?
A Little Extra Warmth
As the temperature drops, birds like to conserve their body temperature by sitting together, quite often for long periods of time. Because power lines are slightly warmer, these make an ideal perching place for birds to just sit and conserve their energy.
Power lines are slightly warmer than the surrounding air because of the electricity that flows through them. When birds perch on the power lines, they’ll immediately feel the warmth under their feet.
That’s precisely why you’ll often see a lot of birds perching on power lines later in the day when the temperature starts to drop.
Protected From Predators
Sitting high up on the power lines means that birds are protected from land predators such as cats and foxes. You’ll often find birds sitting on power lines in cities where there are not many trees around.
These power lines allow birds to get up high off the ground and out of reach of many of their predators.
Social Interaction and Mating
Birds, especially those that flock like starlings or pigeons, use power lines as communal gathering points. It’s a place to socialize, communicate, and stay in groups.
Birds exchange vital information, from food locations to potential threats. The synchronized take-offs, landings, and shifts in position reflect a complex understanding and response to communal cues.
These gatherings also play a role in mating displays and territorial assertions.
For many urban birds, power lines have become the new treetops, serving as arenas for social rituals, reinforcing bonds, and ensuring survival through collective wisdom.
A Great Vantage Point When Looking For Food
Sitting high up on a power line gives the birds an uninterrupted view of the world below. They can easily use their very keen eyesight to spot any viable food sources as they sit and look around.
From their view high up on the power lines, they can spot insects below as well as source any fruit or nut bearing trees that might be of interest.
A Great Meeting And Resting Place Before Migration
It’s interesting to note that some migratory birds will gather in large flocks on power lines before they start their migratory journey. This is why you’ll see a lot of birds on power lines during the late summer and early fall.
It’s believed that they are gathering in numbers before they start their long migratory journey.
On the other hand, it’s quite common to see male songbirds sitting on a power line and singing joyfully. This is because they can be easily seen and heard by their potential mates.
How Can Birds Sit On Power Lines and Not Get Electrocuted?
While you’re contemplating the reason of why birds sit on power lines, you might also be asking why they don’t get electrocuted. To answer this, we need to understand the flow of electricity.
Electricity needs conductors to flow through and ultimately, it is always looking for the fastest and easiest route to the ground.
This creates a closed circuit as the electricity is first pulled from the ground at the power station. It then flows through the power lines and into your home’s appliances. Eventually, the electricity will move back into the ground.
Therefore, the electricity is always looking for the least resistant path back into the ground. This is why electricity conductors are earthed.
Birds that perch on power lines are not earthed. Plus, their bodies are not good conductors of electricity either.
A bird perches on a power line with its two feet. Because the electricity is not motivated to pass through the bird’s body, it chooses the path of least resistance and continues to flow through the wire.
This is precisely why power lines are spaced far apart.
Interesting Facts about Birds Sitting on Power lines
Large Birds Are More Susceptible To Electrocution Than Smaller Ones
If a bird happened to have one foot on one power line and one foot on another line, this would open up the path for the electricity to flow more easily through the bird and it would then be electrocuted.
Similarly, if a bird was to touch a power line and also the power pole, the bird would be electrocuted because it has formed a connection with the power line and the ground below.
That’s why large birds like eagles, hawks and owls are more susceptible to electrocution when they perch on power lines than smaller songbirds. Because of their wide wingspan, a raptor is more likely to touch two wires as it’s landing or taking off.
It’s also more likely for one of their wings to brush the power pole as they’re landing on a power line. There have been many instances of raptors being electrocuted out in the deserts in the US.
This is because, sometimes, the power lines are the only high up places for the birds to perch.
Why Are Birds Sitting On Power Lines All Facing The Same Direction
There’s an easy explanation to this phenomena as well. Basically, it’s for wind resistance.
To understand this, you have to consider the way that birds are built. Generally, they are heavy in the front and much lighter in the back.
This means that a bird will suffer much less wind resistance when they do fly into the wind. So, when they sit on power lines, they’re most likely all facing into the wind.
This means that their feathers are able to fluff up around their bodies and not flutter wildly in the wind.
What Happens When The Wind Is Not Blowing
When the wind has died down again, you’ll most likely find that the birds are now perched randomly and could be facing in different directions. Go and have a look for yourself.
You’ll notice all the birds facing the same direction when the wind is blowing but facing in different directions when it’s a still day.
Birds are Very Considerate
Another interesting phenomena to observe is how considerate birds are when they’re perching on power lines. If a new bird comes along and is looking for a spot to perch, the other birds will move along to make room for the newcomer.
You see, birds who like to perch are generally quite sociable and considerate of other birds. Therefore, they’ll happily move along the wire to allow a newcomer a perching position.
You’ll also find that birds are generally evenly spaced along the power lines. It’s believed that the reason for this is allow enough space to make take off from the wire nice and easy.
On the other hand, if the weather is very cold, you might find a group of birds huddled close together. This means that they are using each other for warmth, just like you find your dog cuddling up close to you on a cold winter’s night.
Which Bird Species Are You Most Likely To See On Power Lines?
This depends entirely on where you live or where the power lines are located but here’s a list of the most common birds that like to perch on power lines.
- American Kestrel
- Rock Pigeon
- European Starling
- Eastern Bluebird
- American Robin
- Swallows and Martins
- Mourning Dove
- House Finch
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Raptors
- Woodpeckers
- Crows and Ravens
Frequently Asked Questions
Birds stay up on power lines by using their sharp claws and strong legs to grip the wires. They also have a special tendon in their legs that locks their toes in place, which helps them to maintain their balance.
In addition, birds have a good sense of balance and can easily adjust their position on the wire to stay upright. They can also use their wings to help them balance, especially in windy conditions.
It’s possible to install a visual or sound repellent device on top of power poles to scare the birds away.
There are a few reasons why birds might sit on power lines before storms.
–To escape strong winds: Birds can be easily blown off course by strong winds, so they may seek shelter on power lines, which are high and sturdy.
–To find food: Insects are often attracted to the light emitted from power lines, so birds may perch on the lines to hunt for food.
–To communicate with each other: Birds may use power lines as a vantage point to communicate with each other about the approaching storm. For example, they may call out to warn each other of danger or to coordinate their movements.
Humans cannot sit on power lines safely.
Power lines carry high voltage electricity, and any contact with a live power line can be fatal.
Even if you are only touching one wire at a time, there is still a risk of electrocution. Electricity can travel through your body to the ground, even if you are not touching both wires.
