Birds, especially migrating birds, fly over very long distances during their lifetimes. Even so, they don’t get tired of flying very often. Birds can get tired just like any other animal. This is especially true if they’ve been flying for a long time or if they’ve been in bad weather or strong winds. But because their bodies have changed and they use energy efficiently, they can fly for a long time without getting too tired.
So, let’s dive in and understand how birds fly without getting tired and what adaptations they have gone through.
Why Do Birds Not Get Tired While Flying?
Birds have a physical adaptation that helps them to endure long-distance flight and manage their energy expenditure which ensures they do not get tired while flying.
Birds are mostly seen gliding in the air which reduces the number of wing beats per minute and also they face lower air resistance as their body is aerodynamic in nature. They are built in such a way that it support their flight.
Their bones are hollowed which helps them to take in more oxygen. It has been found that the center of gravity of birds is between their head and tail keeping them balanced while they are flying.
Let’s get to know more about how wing beats, hollowed bones, and air resistance play an important factor for a bird to fly long distances without getting tired.
Wing Beats
When the bird reaches a certain height they employ less wing beat when compared with a lower altitude flight. This helps them with air currents and updrafts so that the bird can stay afloat without spending much energy. Only when it is necessary, the wings are used, making them use their muscles less and conserve energy while traveling long distances. Many birds have big wing spans and it is theoretically estimated that big wings require high energy due to flapping. But, rather than flapping, birds use their wings to glide to stay airborne which makes them feel less tired.
Hollow Bones
The main aspect of a bird’s body is that they are light in weight and can stay afloat in the air due to the hollow bones. These are also known as pneumatic bones which allow the space to fill in with air, so it can be explained that the lungs of the birds are extending through the bones. Thus, a bird can take in more oxygen while flying long distances. Air sacs are also attached to these hollow bones so when they are exhaling or inhaling, they can take oxygen as much as required to produce the extra energy required for flying.
Air Resistance
The wind suture of the birds helps them to cut through the air resistance. When the bird is traveling a long distance, the air is funneled between the bird’s wings and the cloud surface or water surface, above which they are flying. This compressed air acts as an air funnel, helping the bird stay afloat in the air, without the necessity of lapping the wing.
How Long Can a Bird Fly Without Taking a Break?
Many birds can stay airborne for 2 months straight with a 10-second nap, which is still in the air. A recent study shows that a Common Swift can stay airborne for at least 10 months and an Alpine Swift can remain airborne for 200 days. Interestingly, the Common Swift has the capabilities to eat, sleep, and mate even in the air, so they do not have any reason to come down on the ground as long as the weather is durable. These frigate birds are built to adapt to long flights.
How is the Energy in the Birds Used While Flying?
Birds take advantage of their aerodynamic body and change their flight position and posture to conserve energy when they are flying. They are commonly seen in a V formation which helps them to save energy. It is found that the bird that is flying in the front leaves a wake that provides an updraft to the wake and the birds that are following it, slide in or askew in this wake. Thus, the entire process reduces the amount of expenditure of energy and birds can keep flying with exhaustion.
Does a Bird Prepare Before Going Through a Long Flight?
Before migrating, the birds prepare to consume more food or store more fat which helps to provide them with the energy that is required during the long journey.
Can a Bird Die While Flying?
Usually, a bird does not die while it is flying. However, due to exhaustion, collision with aircraft or buildings or windows, or venturing into less-known terrain, many such unexpected situations can lead to a fatal incident. Here is an insight into common situations that can lead to a bird dying while flying.
Bird Collision
If the bird collides with the aircraft, then it can prove to be a fatal incident. Colliding with the window has been seen as the more common problem due to which more than 600 million birds die every year. The birds are unable to differentiate between the reflection of the window and the actual path, which creates an illusion while traveling. Thus, they collide with the glass window and break their neck.
Fatigue
If the bird is going through a chronic fatigue symptom, then it can die. However, the effects vary among different species of birds. This health situation can affect an individual bird or the entire folk.
Can a Bird Sleep While flying?
Yes, birds can sleep and fly, both at the same time. These frigate birds or Alpines Swifts, which are built to stay airborne for months, have a sleeping pattern that helps them to fly without getting tired. They sleep for a minimum of 10 seconds, even when they are flying.
However, the sleeping patterns of long-distance flying birds or migratory birds differ from the ones who prefer to stay near the ground. According to research, only half of the brain of the bird sleeps while the other half continues to monitor the flight and navigate.
Can a Bird Run Out of Breath While Flying?
Yes, if the bird is extremely tired or enduring fatigue, then it can run out of breath while flying. Also, if the bird has to fly faster, than usual, to escape a predator, then it leads to over-draining of energy and they run out of breath.
What Happens if a Bird is Flying Too High Up in the Sky?
Every species of bird has certain kinds of limitations when they are flying in the air. So, if the bird tries to fly higher, than it should, then it needs to flag its wing more, which would need more energy expenditure. Also, with the rise in altitude, the energy expenditure multiplies as the birds need to keep their body warm, too, which makes the entire scenario quite exhausting.
What are the Advantages of Flying?
Flying bestows the bird with many advantages. When the bird comes near a predator, they can easily escape, and they can have a bird’s view of the entire terrine, while they are gathering food. Also, during harsh weather, or during climatic change, they can migrate and escape the adverse environmental conditions.
