Northern Goshawk in St. Petersburg Warms Up in Frosty Weather
In St. Petersburg, a bird of prey was spotted using an unusual method to warm up in frosty weather.
Mar 4, 2026 0
A Northern goshawk employs a unique warming technique by fluffing its feathers in the cold.
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Frosty weather in St. Petersburg forces people to warm up with mittens and warm shoes. Birds, lacking this option, use other methods to retain heat.
The predator hides its leg in feathers to conserve heat during St. Petersburg«s frosty weather.
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One such case was described on January 30 by biologist and author of the Telegram channel «Every Creature in Pairs» Pavel Glazkov.
Biologist Pavel Glazkov notes the rise in goshawk numbers due to abundant pigeon prey in the city.
A Northern goshawk was spotted in the Nevsky district of the city. The predator tried to warm one of its legs: first it clenched its toes, and then, realizing the ineffectiveness of this method, hid the leg in its feathers and fluffed up.
When a bird fluffs up, the distance between its body and the tips of its feathers increases. An air layer forms around the body, which helps retain heat.
Biologist Pavel Glazkov also noted the trend of increasing population of these predators in the city. «In recent years, St. Petersburg has seen an increase in the number of Northern goshawks, and this is primarily due to a good food base in the form of pigeons. Besides crows and pigeons, they catch jackdaws and smaller birds, such as thrushes,» concluded the specialist.
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