Three birds are left behind when they decide they are too lazy to fly south with their flock. But, despite their laziness, the three birds are willing to put a lot of work into beating the winter cold, and they embark on a series of trial-and-error strategies to stay warm. The shivering birds try wearing winter coats like humans, only to realize that without the use of their wings they can't escape the brutal winter winds. Undeterred, the birds continue their attempts to overcome the cold -- trying (and failing at) everything from living in the water like fish to hibernating in a squirrel-like tree den. Their hilarious, wintery misadventures teach readers why birds that usually fly south are not adapted for cold weather -- these three birds simply lack the survival traits of the other animals they try to mimic. When the three birds finally decide that it's even more work to stay warm in the winter than it is to fly south, they start their journey to join the other birds. But when they finally arrive, they only get to enjoy the warmth for a fleeting moment ... before the flock announces it's time to migrate home again!