In the desert Southwest, water can be scarce. Yet some birds, like this Black-throated Sparrow, thrive in a scorching landscape. The birds obtain moisture from foods like nectar and fruit, as well as insects and other prey. They tuck into the shade in the heat of the day, so they won’t lose water in panting. And they have extremely efficient kidneys, so they excrete almost no liquid. Amazing!

The soundscapes featured in this episode were recorded by Gordon Hempton and provided courtesy of QuietPlanet.com.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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