This adult yellow crowned night heron is thermoregulating in the horaltic position. This position helps birds cool down in hot weather and/or warm up or dry off in cold weather if the sun is shining.

It also helps bake or get any mites moving in the feathers and sometimes they preen a bit after this position.

Birds don’t have sweat glands. Gular fluttering is rapid open mouth / beak breathing with their throat moving in and out. This helps expel hot air and helps to cool birds down. July 2025 Charleston SC