Have you ever pondered about what happens to birds after dark? Do they really go to sleep? Where do they go and at what time do they sleep? However, there is no easy answer to the questions or there is little data on the specific time when birds go to sleep. You have probably spotted a duck sleeping on the water although it is rare to see them sleeping during the day.
Just like any animal, birds also require some quality time of sleep to rejuvenate from injury or illness, regain energy and even grow yet their sleeping patterns are exceptional from human’s sleep. Therefore, at what time do birds sleep? To be specific, exactly how much sleep do birds require? We will learn about that. Majority of bird species take naps at some point during the day to “replenish their energy”.
This is applicable for birds that move to far places to find food and when it comes to sleeping time, they venture into their safe sleeping havens as soon as it gets dark. They will interestingly not come out until the break of dawn. They do this to safeguard themselves from the nocturnal predators, given the fact that most of them don’t see in darkness.
Birds are able to control their sleep unlike mammals that are capable of going into a complete state of total unconsciousness when sleeping. Birds make use of Unihemispheric slow wave sleep meaning sleeping with one eye open and during this time, a part of their brain is resting while the other is very alert. It is for this reason that a sleeping bird can detect danger from afar.
Studies have also indicated that most birds usually sleep much longer during the winter/cold seasons when nights are also longer. It is now a known fact that majority of the bird species are diurnal hence are not able to feed and look for food during dark/nighttime because they will obviously not be able to see. It is for this reason that birds become the victims/prey for most nocturnal animals.
Daytime is nap time for most birds to allow them regain their energy, mostly when they spent the largest amount of their time feeding and flying. Interestingly, most birds will even sleep the moment it gets dark although majority of them will occasionally wake up in the middle of the night to keep watch but will not move out of their safe havens until dawn.
Some birds are nocturnal such as Owls that have large Pupils. Their pupils when opened wide are capable of covering the whole front portion of their tubular (instead of spherical) eyes. Owls also have huge lenses that are placed so close to their retina.
Much as birds require sleep, they don’t do it like mammals and sometimes don’t require as much sleep as mammals. They use a phenomenal amount of energy when flying hence a nap or two works wonders for them. Therefore after knowing the time that birds sleep, it is also important to understand how they sleep and some jaw-dropping facts about their sleep patterns.
Why is it difficult to see birds sleeping?
Have you ever wondered why it is difficult to see birds sleeping? Well, it is because they don’t sleep/nap out in the open. They are intelligent and instead of just sleeping out in the dark, they find a hidden place (mostly off the ground) for safety purposes. Much as they usually build their nests, most birds do not sleep in them. Bird nests are built and reserved for incubation and after a young one is born, it leaves the nest and never return even to rest. Unfortunately, the nests are always full of old droppings, dirt, leftover food, leaves and generally filthy by the end of the nesting season.
