#hugs

yew@diasp.eu

Tree swallows huddle for warmth on a crowded branch in a snowstorm. (Photo: Courtesy of Keith Williams) [+]

Group hug! Some animals rely on one another to weather winter’s wrath. The snuggle-up strategy even has a scientific name: kleptothermy. That means stealing body heat from others. But it’s more like sharing than stealing.

The trick for some birds is to get close enough to share warmth but not so close as to compress feathers and reduce insulation. Other animals that huddle for warmth include penguins, bats and sea lions.

#swallows #cuddle #hugs #cold ##birds #winter