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Why do birds pant when they are hot?

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A zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) with a bright orange beak, gray head, orange cheek patch, and black-and-white striped tail perches on a branch. — Bird A brightly colored zebra finch (*Taeniopygia guttata*) perched on a branch.

Birds pant when they are hot as a primary method of thermoregulation because they do not possess sweat glands to cool themselves.12

When a bird's body temperature rises, its respiration rate increases sharply, facilitating evaporative cooling. This process involves the evaporation of water from internal body surfaces, including the nasal passages, mouth, lungs, and air sacs. By increasing the rate and amplitude of breathing, birds can dissipate excess heat to maintain their internal temperature.341

In addition to panting, some birds utilize other cooling strategies, such as throat fluttering—which allows for evaporative cooling with minimal energy expenditure—or behavioral adjustments like seeking shade and modifying activity levels during the hottest parts of the day.41