At night, most animals– including humans– tend to lie down naturally on their backs, sides or stomachs for sleep. Birds differ significantly as their feathers, wings and beaks all contribute to how they sleep in different environments; learning more about their sleep habits may provide you with clues to any possible problems or provide you with ways to help ensure they sleep soundly.
Types of Bird Sleep
Birds share some similarities in terms of sleep patterns with mammals; however, there are important distinctions in terms of how and the types of sleep they undergo.
Unihemispheric Sleep
Unihemispheric means only one side of the brain is working on something typically carried out by both sides, like in birds sleeping unihemispherically allowing half their brains to still be alert while asleep and respond quickly when alerted by predators1. Even with only half their brain resting, slow-wave sleep occurs despite only half the brain resting – thought to be where dreams and memory consolidation happen! Some birds will even keep one eye open while sleeping a phenomenon known as unilateral eye closure.
Roosting Birds engage in a behavior known as roosting when they settle down for sleep. Birds typically only sit on nests when incubating eggs or providing warmth for baby birds, so when not nesting, birds tend to gather together on branches or spaces where they can stay safe while sleeping safely – this activity is known as “roosting.”
Some species of birds will use power naps as a method for sleeping when migrating; these short periods of restful restfulness are commonly referred to as power naps and may alternate with unihemispheric sleep cycles.
Sleep Duration in Birds
Depending on the species of bird, half their day could be spent roosting or sleeping and the other half eating, playing, flying and socializing. Most pet birds such as parrots require 10-12 hours of restful sleep each night in order to function normally and without it they become irritable and stressed similar to people without enough restful rest. Other species not usually kept as pets may require multiple short naps instead of sleeping continuously throughout the night.
Birds possess several innovative sleep adaptations that enable them to remain safe while still receiving restful slumber. Bihemispheric sleep and unilateral eye closure are two notable adaptations; other birds may use one leg which “locks up” onto a perch as security, fluff up their feathers while sleeping, or tuck their heads under them while dozing off. Waterfowl species can even sleep while floating in water while some migratory species even find ways to restful rest while flying overhead!