❄️ Winter Wonderland
How do animals survive the British winter?
Limited time · November – December
0/5 challenges complete
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Winter Expert!
Winter Expert!
You know how animals brave the cold!
Brilliant work — you discovered 5 incredible British winter animals. 🐦🐭🐦🦡🐦
❄️ 5 Winter Wildlife Challenges
Robin
Robins are one of the few UK birds that sing all year round, even in winter. Their red breast is a warning to other robins to stay away from their territory. In cold weather, robins puff up their feathers to trap warm air — they can look twice their normal size!
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❓ Why do robins puff up their feathers?
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Dormouse
Dormice hibernate for up to 7 months — longer than any other British mammal! Before hibernating, they double their body weight by eating hazelnuts, blackberries and insects. During hibernation, their heart rate drops from 150 to just 5 beats per minute.
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❓ How long do dormice hibernate for?
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Waxwing
Waxwings are winter visitors to the UK, arriving from Scandinavia when berry crops fail there. They travel in flocks of hundreds and can strip a berry bush completely in minutes!
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❓ Where do waxwings come from?
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Badger
Badgers don't fully hibernate, but they do sleep for long periods in winter. In their underground setts, the temperature stays around 10°C even when it's snowing above. A badger sett can have 50 entrance holes and be 100 years old!
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❓ Do badgers fully hibernate?
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Redwing
Redwings are the UK's smallest thrush. They arrive from Iceland and Scandinavia every October. They migrate at night, navigating by the stars. You can hear their thin 'seep' call as they fly over towns and cities after dark in autumn.
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❓ When do redwings arrive in the UK?
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Gary's Winter Tip
Check bonfires and leaf piles before lighting them — hedgehogs love to nest in them! Always check for wildlife before disturbing big piles of leaves.