Shorebirds adjust resting orientation in response to solar radiation and wind speed.

Animals may signal behavioural responses to climate stressors. To date, there has been no study investigating the altered behaviour of birds due to the synergetic effects of wind, solar radiation and ambient temperature in natural environments. We analysed the body orientation of three close‐related Charadriiformes species with different body masses in response to wind speed, wind direction, sun position and ambient temperature on beaches in south‐eastern Brazil. We expected these birds to adjust their postures according to the intensity of climate stressors and their different body masses. We found that regardless of body mass, resting birds faced the wind according to its speed and reduced their surface area exposed to airflow. They also exhibited a perpendicular orientation to the sun in lower ambient temperatures, which correlated with higher wind speeds. The behavioural adjustments of resting birds to concomitant climate stressors may prevent body destabilization and promote thermoregulation and energy savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]