News Animals

In drought, zebra finches wring water from their own fat

Deprived birds shown to rely less on stored proteins to quench thirst

Zebra finches

FINCH IN A PINCH  Zebra finches with no water can dodge dehydration by metabolizing body fat, a new study shows. 

Peripitus/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

Thirsty zebra finches “drink” their body fat. The songbirds are the first birds shown to get through a day without water by breaking down adipose tissue to stay hydrated, says evolutionary physiologist Ulf Bauchinger.