There's no doubt about it - our world is getting hotter. Many of us have experienced summers with record high temperatures in the last few years. For some of us, experiencing discomfort due to the heat can affect our mood negatively. Humans have different ways of dealing with this discomfort, but what about our parrots? Let's take a look at how heat affects them and ways we can make them more comfortable if we find ourselves dealing with higher temperatures in our home. 

How Do High Temperatures Affect Parrots?

When a bird gets a little warm, as long as they have ways to hydrate and cool off, its not as dangerous for them. But, under more extreme conditions, it can be harmful. Here's what we know so far based on studies conducted on how high temperatures can affect our birds:

Their body temperature increases as it gets hotter. When this happens, their bodies have to work hard to get rid of that excess heat. Parrots may start to pant by breathing rapidly with their beaks open and fluttering their tongue. This increases evaporative cooling and is a normal behavior for birds if they get too warm, but too much can cause dehydration if they can't replace water that is lost in the process. We tend to see this happen with wild birds when its hot outside and there is not enough access to water. 

Their resting metabolic rate increases. This means that they are using more energy while resting (simply perching, sleeping, etc.) which makes the body work harder than normal to maintain stability and cool off. This process can also increase their body temperature since higher metabolic reactions can also generate heat as a byproduct. 

Their behavior will change as they experience discomfort and try to cool off. You may notice them hold their wings away from their body as they try to increase airflow. If they have droopy wings and fluffed feathers, this indicates that they are experiencing heat stress. This means the bird has gone beyond discomfort and is at the point that they need help cooling off. Sometimes, a bird might appear more sleek while holding their wings slightly away from their body as well. This can happen after a lot of activity as well. You may also notice them being less active if they are too warm. Their body is working harder to cool off, so they may not be as active as they usually are. 

How Can We Help Them Cool Off?

Sometimes, our homes are hotter than usual and there isn't much that can be done when temperatures outside soar. Other than using an air conditioner and increasing airflow in our homes when appropriate, there are some ways we can help our birds cool off and be more comfortable.

Providing clean, fresh drinking water is perhaps the most important thing we can do. Birds need water to stay hydrated, but they can also use it to cool off by bathing. By keeping the water clean and fresh, we're protecting them from bacteria that can build up but also providing them with a way to continuously cool off if they need it. If your bird enjoys it, you can also use a spray bottle to cool them off if it gets warm in your home. Some birds love this, but some not so much, so if your bird acts scared of upset, its best to not continue. Some people that keep their birds outside use special misters to keep them cool. But, if temperatures get too warm, keeping them outside might not be a good idea. 

Keep the room ventilated and help prevent more heat from entering. Placing their cage away from direct sunlight is important. You can also close the blinds and curtains to prevent more heat from entering the home. Keeping the room well ventilated by using a fan can help to keep the air from getting stale and uncomfortable. Having an air conditioner is a huge help when cooling off a home, just make sure it isn't hitting the bird directly. This applies when using a fan as well.

You can provide your parrot juicy, water-dense fruit and veggies to help them stay hydrated. Some parrot-safe examples are strawberries, bell peppers, and watermelon. Watermelon is actually 90% water so it is a fantastic choice for this purpose. You can remove the seeds and skin and cut it up into chunks so its easier for them to eat. You can also give them leafy greens in a shallow dish with a bit of water. Budgies especially like to roll around and bathe in damp greens. Giving them these foods is just another way to help them stay hydrated when they need it. Just keep in mind that higher temperatures mean fresh food goes bad faster. So, be sure to remove them when your bird is done with them. 

As a general rule, if you are feeling hot and uncomfortable, your bird probably is too. Being proactive about preventing problems before they arise is key to keeping your bird healthy.   If you ever suspect that your parrot is in distress, its important to get them to the veterinarian. These are just some ways you can help them to cool off and feel better. I hope this has been helpful in giving you some ideas in case you ever find yourself and your bird feeling a little too spicy!

References:

McWhorter, Todd J et al. “Avian thermoregulation in the heat: evaporative cooling capacity and thermal tolerance in two Australian parrots.” The Journal of experimental biology vol. 221,Pt 6 jeb168930. 23 Mar. 2018, doi:10.1242/jeb.168930

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Edited by Valérie Masson-Delmotte et al., Cambridge University Press, 2021