Question

Why don't birds get shocked when sitting on power lines?
Why don't the birds and other animals who sit on or walk across power lines get shocked when they do so?

We're always warned to never touch the power lines but birds and other animals do it all the time and don't get shocked? Why is it?

Answer 1

The reason birds and other animals don't get shocked or electrocuted while sitting or walking across electric power lines is that they're not touching the neutral or ground return path while touching the hot wire.

If you were to set up on the power line and not touch any other wire or the ground you wouldn't get shocked either.

But don't try it though.