Why Do Birds Sit On Power Lines? (Everything Explained)

Whether you’re driving down a country road or just gazing out your window at the street, there’s a good chance you’ll see some birds perched on power lines.

Birdwatchers know that the wire is a great place to find a variety of roosting birds. So what attracts birds to the wires?

Electric wires are a part of the modern landscape, and birds have learned to incorporate them into their daily lives. These wires provide a convenient place for birds to roost, especially if there are no tall trees or vegetation around. In fact, power lines in some parts of the world actually help some birds expand their ranges into desert and grassland areas, where tall vegetation can be hard to find. Birds use power cords to rest, roost and even hunt.

When perched on power lines, birds are protected from ground predators like cats and coyotes. Birds such as hawks and shrikes can also easily spot prey on the ground below with their unobstructed field of vision.

Read on to learn more about why birds sit on wires.

A large group of starlings perched on a power line

Why don’t birds get shocked by sitting on wires?

Birds can be shocked while sitting on wires, but only if they touch both wires at the same time. This is rare for small birds, but occasionally occurs with larger species. Sometimes two birds sitting on different wires can be shocked if they come into physical contact with each other.

Birds are able to sit on wires without getting a shock because their bodies are not at a different electrical potential than the wires. However, if they touch a wire and the ground, or a wire and a pole touching the ground, the electrons in the wire can flow through the bird to the ground, causing an electric shock.

So it’s perfectly safe for a small bird to sit on a wire, but we know birds do get electrocuted on wires. How did this happen?

Let’s look at a few situations that can lead to electrocution in birds:

• The bird is in contact with two wires (phase to phase). This is more likely to happen to larger birds. This can happen if a bird with a large wingspan tries to fly between two wires.
• The bird made contact with another bird on the wire. This occurs when a mother bird feeds begging chicks, or if a bird feeds its mate during courtship.
• The bird is in contact with poles and wires (relatively). It’s also more likely to happen to larger birds, such as raptors, which often roost on utility poles rather than on them.

Singing thrush perched on a wire

Can we protect birds from electric shocks on power lines?

As of 2006, 59 species of American birds have been recorded as victims of electrocution on power lines. This includes more than half of the owl and raptor species in the United States.

For more than half a century, the United States has worked to protect birds from power lines. One effective method involves increasing the space between wires to prevent birds from touching more than one wire at a time.

Another effective safety measure is to cover exposed live parts. Birds can also be deterred from nesting on utility poles and other powerline infrastructure by installing nesting platforms.

Read on to learn more about birds that roost on power lines.

Larger birds, such as merlins, often perch on power lines

Which birds sit on wires?

A wide variety of birds roost on power lines, although larger birds are more likely to roost on poles than wires. Only birds with grabbing feet can effectively grab wire, so this rules out many waterfowl.

The following types of birds are commonly found on the wires of power cords:

• pigeons and doves
• small birds of prey like the american kestrel
• swallows and martins
• european starling
• blue bird
• Loggerhead Shrike
• western kingfisher
• freckle
• black bird

American Kestrel perched on a power line

Which birds don’t sit on wires?

In calm weather and with some balance, most birds can sit on the wire. However, for some birds, poles are more comfortable than wires.

The following species inhabit utility poles more often than utility poles:

• Larger birds of prey such as eagles, ospreys, and hawks
• Goose
• heron
• turkey vulture

Many birds avoid open locations such as power lines because they are secretive and shy by nature. This applies to many birds that forage on the ground, within tree canopies, or in dense undergrowth.

Some birds of prey, such as the razor-sharp hawk, also avoid preying from wires because they rely on stealth and surprise to catch their prey.

Gray heron perched on top of a utility pole

Why do birds congregate on power lines?

Birds flock to power lines for a variety of reasons. Flocks of birds perched on power lines are common, especially when there is no other habitat nearby. This behavior is especially common when birds are preparing to migrate.

Do birds sleep on electrical wires?

Larger birds such as crows, crows, black vultures and turkey vultures often roost on wires, especially in open habitats without tall vegetation and rocky areas.

In fact, over 2,000 crows (the largest roosting flock ever recorded) were observed perching on power lines in Idaho. Power lines don’t offer a lot of shelter from the elements, but they do offer protection from ground predators like cats, coyotes, and foxes.

crows spend the night on wires

Do birds build nests on electrical wires?

Power poles are not of much use to nesting birds, but poles and other powerline infrastructure provide solid support for many bird species that choose to nest. This allows some birds to roost in treeless areas where they usually nest. These are usually larger birds such as raptors.

The following types of birds are known to nest on utility poles:

• red tailed hawk
• osprey
• golden eagle
• crows and ravens
• king bird of the east and west
• Flycatcher
• great blue heron
• monk parakeet
• great horned owl

Osprey nesting on a power line

What does the bird on the wire symbolize?

A bird on a wire can mean different things to different people. For some, this imagery evokes a sense of freedom, while for others it may suggest the exact opposite. The titles “Bird On The Wire” and “Birds On A Wire” were used for a song written by Leonard Cohen in 1969 and a film produced by Rob Cohen in 1990, respectively.

frequently asked questions

Why do birds face the same direction when sitting on wires?

Birds tend to face the same direction when there is wind blowing. By facing the wind, birds can use their streamlined bodies and backward-facing feathers to maintain balance and perch safely. Their feathers are blown away by the wind, and if their backs are turned to the wind, the birds can be blown away from the wire.

Why do birds stop on power lines before a storm?

There’s an old saying that if birds flock to power lines, you can expect rain. A flock of migratory birds may stop to escape a storm during their migration. However, this is more likely to be a coincidence. Considering that birds can be seen on power lines in all kinds of weather, modern weather forecasts are probably more reliable!

Why do birds sit on power lines in winter?

Some have suggested that the wires give off a small amount of heat that birds like. Birds are more likely to roost on power lines during the winter for the same reasons as at other times of the year. The most important reasons include safety, comfort and visibility while hunting.