Why don’t birds get electrocuted on wires?

If we tried the same thing, the result would be… well, shocking. So what makes birds different?

Let’s understand how electricity works. Electricity flows through metal wires, just like water flows through pipes. It moves from a place with high voltage (electric pressure) to a place with low voltage.

For electricity to flow, it needs a complete path — from a power source, through wires, and back again.

It usually travels smoothly toward the ground, which has zero voltage. But if something touches the wire and the ground at the same time, electricity can flow through that object — which can be dangerous.

The bird’s trick

When a bird is sitting on a wire, it’s perched with both feet on the same wire. This means its body is at the same voltage as the wire.

Since there’s no voltage difference across its body, electricity has no reason to flow through it.

No flow of electricity = no shock!

In simple terms, the bird becomes part of the wire, not a path electricity wants to travel through.

When it becomes dangerous

Birds are safe when they sit on just one wire, because there’s no voltage difference across their body.

But things change when a bird (or person) touches two points at once — like:

• Two wires with different voltages, or

• A wire and something connected to the ground, like a pole or tree.

In both cases, the body creates a complete path for electricity to flow.

Electricity moves from high voltage to low voltage or ground, and if the body is in the way, it becomes the path.

This sudden flow of electricity through the body causes a shock or electrocution.

That’s why power lines are spaced apart and kept high up — to prevent birds and people from touching more than one point at the same time.

What about humans?

Unlike birds, humans stay in contact with the ground. If a person touches a wire while grounded, it creates a path for electricity to flow. That’s why people can get shocked easily near power lines. Linemen wear special gear and follow safety rules to stay safe. Birds avoid shocks by not touching the ground or multiple wires — and that’s their trick!