A friend said she heard there's a species of bird that hibernates during the winter. I was surprised because I've only heard of birds that either migrate to warm weather as it gets cold; or stay active and behave normally if they're designed to thrive in cold temperatures.
I know some hummingbirds go into a state called torpor. Their metabolism slows down and they lower their body temperature to conserve energy. A variety of animals do it, but it's different from hibernation.
Is there scientific proof that a species of bird goes into genuine hibernation?
If so, I'd like to know the general characteristics, including:
- What is the species name?
- Where does it live?
- When does it hibernate and for how long?
- What type of areas does it hibernate in, such as den, tunnel, under trees?
Any other information, especially a picture, would be appreciated.
If there's more than one known species, I can split this up into separate questions so it won't be too broad.
New species, and traits of existing species, are discovered over time, so I'm asking for data as of June 1, 2018.