Birds are unable to sweat but they keep cool by seeking shade and bathing As we humans sweltered in the record-breaking late June heatwave, we might not have spared much thought on how birds were coping. Unlike us, birds are unable to sweat, so instead they have evolved other ways to avoid overheating. These include seeking shade beneath trees, bushes and hedgerows, spreading their wings to allow cooler air to circulate around their body, and opening their bills to cool down, the same as dogs do when they pant. Birds are also able to pump blood into their bare parts – bills, legs and feet – which allows their body heat to disperse. Continue reading...