# Skunk gulls, feathered feet & birds with airbags > I sent my husband the second draft of the novelette I’m working on and he had some questions about what the characters’ wings looked like and I, uh, I didn’t know, so I had to do some research about what’s normal for arctic birds. ## Fun Facts %% source: [Birds of the Arctic Guide | Expeditions Online](https://expeditionsonline.com/blog/birds-arctic) %% - Ravens, puffins, gulls, redpolls, gyrfalcons, snowy owls, and ptarmigans live in the arctic regions year-round despite the bitter cold. - Arctic terns migrate from Antarctica to the Arctic every summer to breed, then migrate back to Antarctica overwinter. - Kittiwakes are the only gull-like birds to [nest on the sides of cliffs](https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/blog/22-enchanting-arctic-birds-and-their-most-fascinating-facts), where their chicks are safe from predators. - Birds, like humans, shiver to generate warmth when they’re cold. - Ptarmigans have the [cutest little feathered feet](https://www.britannica.com/animal/ptarmigan) it looks like they’re wearing little boots. ## Snowed Under One of the most effective ways of staying warm in winter in the arctic is to literally curl up in a little ball and get covered by snow. Some birds, like ptarmigans, dig burrows in the snow to keep warm. Depending on the depth of the snow, the air between the ground and the snow can hover right around freezing. [[Read More](https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/219/8/1093/16734/Adaptations-to-polar-life-in-mammals-and-birds)] ## Bags on Board Northern gannets have little bags of air under their skin. This not only helps them resurface quickly after diving under water, it helps cushion their impact when diving. They have subaceous glands (like the ones that cause acne in humans) that lets them waterproof their feathers. [[Read More](https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/to-do/wildlife/northern-gannet)] ## Freezing Feet Birds that stand in icy-cold water manage not to freeze to death because the arterial blood in the feet has already cooled off during its downward travel — by warming the upward-traveling blood in the veins! Certain birds, such as gulls and waterfowl, have a specialized countercurrent heat exchanger in their upper leg, which helps them maintain a safe core body temperature. [[Check out these helpful diagrams](https://beyondpenguins.ehe.osu.edu/issue/arctic-and-anarctic-birds/how-do-birds-stay-warm)] ## Foul Gull Fulmar gulls have strong-smelling stomach oil that they can use in a variety of ways. Not only can they excrete the pungent spray like a skunk to ward off predators, their young can eat it for quick energy. They can also metabolise it during long flights for extra energy when needed. [[Read More](https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/blog/22-enchanting-arctic-birds-and-their-most-fascinating-facts)] - - - <div class=infobox>If you found this interesting, you may also enjoy <a href=”https://eleanorkonik.com/civilizations-thrive-in-adverse-environments/”>my article about civilizations in adverse environments</a>.</div>