A Man Tries To Catch A Capercaillie Buried In The Snow

Have you ever thought of the tactics some non-migrating birds use to survive the harsh winter condition? If not, here is an educational and at the same time funny example of a Capercaillie burring itself in the deep soft snow of the Norwegian woods.

Most birds must head south in winter in order to find sufficiently warm temperatures and sustenance to stay alive. Lots of these birds migrate temporarily all the way to Latin America, Africa, The Near East or even the Caribbean. And migration is quite risky and energetically expensive.

The small number of birds that remain make a resilient lot and although they are saved for the perilous and energy draining migration must endure the harsh winter. Unlike many mammals, birds do not hibernate, so they are forced to consume an adequate amount in order to preserve their body temperatures and survive. Apart from fluffing up their feathers, some birds, like the Capercaillie in this video, bury themselves in soft snow. And when there is a sufficient snow cover, the Capercaillie are known to sometimes bury themselves in snowdrifts, where the snow itself isolates the bird from dropping outside air temperatures.

In this video, a young man hiking in the woods has spotted a spot where a Capercaillie would normally hide. He attempts to sneak up on it and catch it, but this amazing bird is anticipating the young man’s moves and quickly and energetically flies away from under its snowy blanket.

Nature is simply amazing!