Has anyone seen birds sleeping?

[neale]

I've always been interested in birds and have gained quite a large knowlege base on the subject over the years (apart from seabirds). But there's one thing that I have always wanted to see but never have ... and that is a bird sleeping at night. Has anyone ever seen one or has there been anything on the telly about it. Or are they such light sleepers that they hear you first. Also, do you think that all my local birds are being kept awake by our local night singing song thrush?

[neale]

Hi everyone,
I forgot to introduce myself, so I appologise and would like to say hello to everyone. My wife found your website and as we are all bird/nature lovers it has been an immediate hit with us.You all seem to be a friendly bunch of people and we are looking forward to get to know you all and hopefully fit in. Thanks for giving us this opportunity.
Neale and wife Marie.

[pheonix]

i have seen birds roosting in torch light but they are very quick to wake up and take flight

[Wild-Woman]

Hello Neale and Marie and welcome to WAB.

I've seen a bird sleeping in a box with a camera. Blue tits/ great tits sleep with their head tucked under, bit like a little mouse really. They seem to sleep in short bursts though. I would imagine this is for safety. Don't think they need the full 8 hours like us humans need-or most do.
I have heard that swallows and swifts and the like can sleep on the wing! Perhaps they are able to shut down one side of their brain the same way that a dolphin apparently does.

Hope you both enjoy the boards. Look forward to your posts. WW

[Tinkerbell]

Welcome to WAB Neale.

We were watching the bluetit in our nesting box the other evening as is settled down for the night, fluffed out its feathers and tucked its head under its wing and slept - I then asked my husband a similar question to yours 'How do birds sleep in the outdoor environment when there is no nest for them to relax into'. It really is a puzzle and when nesting it must be a great relief to not 'fall off the perch'!!

[nightshade]

They all sleep,some in flight,all nervous, heads under wings,fluffed up, eyes closed,robins bluetits,pigeons,sparrowhawks,wrens,terns albatross

[Tragus]

Hi Neale and welcome to WAB

I've seen bird's asleep, but then again I do work with sick and injured ones, so I suppose that's cheating
Bird's sleep very lightly as far as I'm aware, but they all do sleep.
We have had mallard ducks who have been badly beaten up by over amorous males and as a result the top of the head is left bare. The skin shrinks in sunlight as it dries out, pulling up the top of the eyelids. If not remedied quickly (we slit the skin to release the pressure on the eyelids) the bird will go insane through lack of sleep.

I've also heard that most birds can close one eye and effectively shut down half their brain, allowing them to sleep with one eye open! I'm not sure if this has been scientifically proven or not though!!!!

Jo