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This winter our big  gallinaceous birds are quite comfortable in the snow – good to spend the night in safely. So in cold weather they often stay for ten or twenty hours in the snow; it isn’t cold, and they are protected from predators. The snow cave still has a few degrees above zero for instance  when there are 15 degrees of cold outside. Energy use is probably one third smaller compared to spending the night in a tree. The only serious threat is the formation of an ice crust on the snow; then even big and strong capercaillies or grouse can become imprisoned in the snow. But during thaw periods it is colder in the snow cave than outside it.