How can birds sit on telephone wires?

Answer 1

This is possible because a bird only touches one line. If the bird were to touch another line or pole the electricity would travel through the bird, either to the ground or another wire. To do any work, even to harm a person or other living thing, electricity has to flow FROM something TO something. So it could flow FROM a wire TO another wire, or FROM a wire TOO the ground, or FROM a cloud THROUGH a person TO the ground. When a bird sits on a wire there is great electrical POTENTIAL, but it doesn't go anywhere so the bird is perfectly safe since the electrical potential has no path through the bird. Both above answers are correct, though, i have more to add. The electicity carries through to... usually nothing! Like the above answer, there is that potential though. If there were another wire which the bird was also touching, there would be problems and if it were to touch another bird, result is the same. Another interesting fact, I might add: If someone were to grab a power line with both hands at the EXACT same time, while feet were not on the ground and NOT, i repeat NOT touch anything else or put anthing on the power line, while already holding it, and then let go at EXACTLY the same time, without touching the ground first... That person would survive, no injuries! I might add, while most birds perch on electrical wires perfectly safely, they do present some dangers. In particular, large birds such as eagles have wingspans wide enough that they occasionally brush two parallel wires with their wingtips, which completes the electrical circuit and allows electricity to run through the bird's body, killing them. This is a serious problem in certain desert areas where the birds use the electrical poles for nesting, due to limited other options.

Answer 2

They are only on one wire at a time, so there is no circuit for current. As long as they don't become grounded to something, or touch two wires at the same time, they are fine. Generally, high-voltage wires are widely-separated to prevent arcing; that also helps prevent animals from touching two wires at once.

Answer The resistance of the wire between the bird's feet is so low that the current passing through the conductor cannot create sufficient voltage drop to harm the bird. Should part of the bird come into contact with another line conductor, or an earthed conductor, then it will be killed.

There is no ground.
The electricity cant easily flow through them.

Answer 3

Their feet are made of keratin which is an insulator and so cannot be electrocuted because it's not a conductor, like metal. This protects birds and they use power lines as roosts, getting together with other birds, marking territory and calling.

Answer

As interesting as the original answer is, it is wrong. Keratin might be an insulator, but that has absolutely nothing to do with why a bird is not harmed when it perches on a power line!

The reason is as follows.

The resistance of the wire between the bird's feet is so low that the current passing through the conductor cannot create sufficient voltage drop to harm the bird. Should part of the bird come into contact with another line conductor, or an earthed conductor, then it will be killed (despite having insulated legs!!!).

Answer 4

I've wondered that too but it's because they're not powerlines. So I'm not the same person that posted this but actually they have human like toes and they can bend them too stay on.... And their nails are already curved....

Answer 5

Because of resistance, the wires get warm and so when the birds rest on the wires their feet warm up.

Answer 6

they can only be electrocuted if they re touching the ground, if not the electricity cannot travel through them