No doubt about it, southeast Florida can be very hot in mid-August. So what do the birds do to keep cool??
Many birds, like Hawks and Wood Storks, soar overhead, circling above the wetlands to take advantage of high altitude currents where the air is cooler.
Black-bellied Whistling Duck bathing
Most birds try to keep their cool by being much less active during the hottest mid-day hours. Some refresh themselves by dunking and bathing in the ponds.
Great Blue Heron
But a lot of our wetland birds cool off by panting! This is an important type of thermoregulation; since birds do not have sweat glands, they must cool off via their respiratory system.
Tri-colored Heron
They literally rid their bodies of excess heat by standing around with their mouths open, “which allows water to evaporate from the surface of the air sacs.” (The Sibley Guide to Bird Life & Behavior, 2013, p.31).
Cormorant
You’ll also often see birds, like this Cormorant above, rapidly vibrating the throat, which increases the cooling effect even more. This curious-looking behavior, which looks sort of like gargling, is called gular fluttering.
BirdNote happened to air a segment recently called How Birds Stay Cool. It’s short and interesting, so have a listen!
Birder's Journey 
These birds look like they are really feeling the heat. Well portrayed BJ!
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They handle it well – better than most of us humans! Thanks so much, AB.
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Good post. I agree this heat is oppressing and I am not even in FL. I am headed to PA next week and it will be in the mid-nineties. Here the upper 80’s. The temp is not the problem as much as is the humidity. I may be walking around with my mouth open too.
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The most challenging days here are both temps in the 90’s and high humidity. Even the very occasional rain doesn’t really provide much relief. We humans just have to stay inside in the AC during midday!
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Birds are suffering… I can tell from your photos. Stay cool, Bj.
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Thankfully they have plenty of water, though the levels are low. Besides bathing, it’s very interesting to watch them actually drinking a lot.
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Great shots Carol, you’re right about the heat effect on birds. 🙂
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They’ve developed some wonderful adaptations to try to deal with it – thank you, H.J.!
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I have seen these same cooling behaviors here on the west side of Florida too. And recently noticed more and more birds vibrating their throats…I was not sure about why they did it …so thank you for the education!
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And I’ve been noticing more and more birds ‘bathing’ and drinking! Glad you found it interesting, Tiny, and thanks for stopping by.
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Gular Fluttering, I did not know that and did wonder if there was a term for the ‘panting like’ vibration of the throat. Thanks for that bit of information!!
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We’re lucky that there are so many handy resources out there to look these things up!
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