Observations of birds acting differently before bad weather raise a common question: can birds truly sense storms? While a part of human folklore for centuries, scientific exploration reveals changes in bird behavior are linked to atmospheric shifts. This article examines the scientific basis behind how birds anticipate and react to approaching storms.
Evidence for Storm Sensing
Observations and scientific studies confirm birds can detect impending weather changes. A notable 2014 study documented golden-winged warblers evacuating their U.S. breeding territories over 24 hours before a severe storm, more than 900 kilometers away. This occurred even when local weather conditions appeared normal.
Black-naped terns altered migration patterns in response to typhoon activity, adjusting departure times to avoid dangerous routes. White-throated sparrows increase foraging efforts as barometric pressure decreases, a common precursor to inclement weather. These findings suggest birds possess a sophisticated sensitivity to atmospheric conditions, enabling them to respond to distant weather systems.
How Birds Detect Weather Changes
Birds employ various sensory capabilities to detect environmental changes signaling approaching storms. A significant mechanism involves their sensitivity to barometric pressure. As a storm approaches, air pressure typically drops, and birds detect these subtle shifts through pressure-sensitive organs in their inner ears, particularly the paratympanic organ. Their air sacs, connected to their lungs, might also play a role.
Birds also detect infrasound, very low-frequency sound waves below human hearing. Storms and turbulent air generate these waves, which travel vast distances, allowing birds to perceive distant storms hours before humans. The golden-winged warblers’ evacuation before a distant storm is thought to be a response to such infrasound.
Some research suggests birds detect changes in electromagnetic fields associated with storms. Birds use Earth’s magnetic field for navigation, and disturbances from storm activity could serve as an additional cue. Additionally, birds can sense changes in humidity and temperature through their skin and feathers, as these factors often shift as a storm draws near. These combined sensory inputs provide birds with a detailed picture of impending weather.
Bird Behavior Before Storms
When birds sense an approaching storm, they exhibit observable behavioral changes. One common response is altered flight patterns, such as flying closer to the ground. Lower barometric pressure makes the air less dense, requiring more energy for high-altitude flight. Insectivorous birds like swallows may also fly low to follow their insect prey, which descend as humidity rises and pressure drops.
Many birds engage in a “feeding frenzy” before a storm, consuming more food than usual to build up energy reserves. This behavior helps them endure periods when foraging might be difficult or impossible due to severe weather. As a storm intensifies, birds actively seek shelter in dense foliage, tree cavities, or under eaves of buildings to protect themselves from wind and rain.
Changes in vocalization are also observed, with a noticeable silence often preceding a significant storm as birds cease their usual chirping and singing. This quiet period may be a strategy to conserve energy or avoid attracting predators. In some instances, birds might even alter their migratory patterns or accelerate their departure to avoid a storm’s path.