As the holiday season approaches, we often think of the familiar sights and sounds of Christmas—snowflakes, twinkling lights, and of course, festive animals like reindeer and turkeys. But there’s so much more to these creatures than meets the eye. From the little-known habits of winter wildlife to surprising facts about animals like robins, camels, and reindeer, many of these animals have intriguing connections to Christmas that are often overlooked. In this blog, we’ll explore 10 fascinating facts about Christmas animals that you probably didn’t know—so grab a cup of hot chocolate and get ready to discover the winter wonders of the animal kingdom!
Rudolph’s red nose isn’t far from reality!
Reindeer’s noses contain loads of tiny veins which circulate blood around their nose. This helps warm up the air they breathe, keeping them just that little bit warmer!
Robins aren’t always as friendly as they appear
These staples of the winter season may appear cute and cuddly, but they can be fiercely territorial. Normally disputes are solved through body language and song, but they are very willing to physically fight over land – even going so far as to fight with dead birds and even inanimate objects.
Camel mums are in for the long haul
For camels, giving birth is a long process! Females have a gestation period of 12-14 months and they nurse their young for 10-18 months, with camels reaching full size at 7 years old. When they’re ready, the expectant mothers will remove themselves from the herd and find a secluded spot with lots of vegetation to give birth. The baby camels can walk within half an hour of being born and it’s only after a few weeks that the mum and child will rejoin the herd.
Polar Bears are rarely successful when hunting
Polar bears spend about half their waking life looking for food. Whether it be ambushing seal pup dens, waiting at breathing holes, or stalking popular seal spots, they know how to hunt – yet only around 2% of their hunts are successful. Usually, they settle for smaller mammals or scavenge from animal carcasses.
A turkey’s poop determines whether it is male or female
Believe it or not, male and female turkeys have different shaped droppings! A male’s poops are shaped like the letter ‘J’, while female poops tend to be more spiral-shaped. The size of the dropping can also help to determine the turkey's age.
Goats are incredibly picky eaters
Contrary to popular belief, goats are picky about their food. They usually prefer fresh, clean food. They will often refuse to eat hay that has been stood on or lying around for a few days. Their lips are also very sensitive, allowing them to search around for the best food.
Partridges don’t live in pear trees
You’ve heard it here first, folks! Despite what the well-known Christmas song might lead you to believe, all 56 species of partridge are ground-dwellers! They have short, stocky legs that they use to forage and dig in the ground for food.
Penguins live in warmer climates too!
It’s easy to imagine a penguin waddling across the icy landscape of Antarctica, yet species of penguin live all over the world, including places like South America and Australia. Every region has their own distinct species and there are 18 known types of penguins.
Turtle Doves are summer birds
Despite their association with Christmas songs and traditions, turtle doves spend their winters in West Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. They arrive back in the UK in spring and can be identified by their distinct purring sounds.
Roosters can be festive!
You may think a rooster is a strange choice for a list of Christmas animals but there are parts of the world that associate them with the festive season. The Spanish mass of ‘Misa de Gallo’ literally translates as ‘Rooster’s Mass’. It was most likely called this due to the fact that mass is celebrated on the dawn of Christmas day when a rooster would stereotypically crow. It’s also believed that a rooster crowed upon the birth of Jesus.
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