A lot of an eagles ability to survive cold-weather comes from their amazing feathers. They have thousands of feathers of different types working in harmony to protect them from the cold temperatures, harsh winds, and snow and ice.

Closest to their body they have soft and fluffy down that traps air to be warmed by the body and insulates from the cold. They also have contour feathers that give their body its overall shape. These feathers have a shaft for structure and strength and overlap similar to the shingles of a roof, each on top of the other so only the edges are exposed. The exposed ends of these contour feathers are waterproof and repel rain and snow.

Bald eagles maximize their feathers’ abilities by fluffing themselves up, trapping lots of insulating air. They also cover their bare feet and toes to keep these featherless areas protected, further warming feet by standing on one leg and alternating which foot gets tucked closest to the body. ~ How Bald Eagles Survive the Cold


RE_2023-01-02_03084