Birds flying inspire awe — but how much do you know about flight? Learn which bird flies highest, which flying bird is heaviest, and more.
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Height of Bird Flight in the Sky
According to bird experts Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman, much about bird flying is dependent on the species, season, and what else the bird is doing. Songbirds that feed on insects vary in the elevation of their flight — “they may forage anywhere from low over a pond up to hundreds of feet in the air,” Kenn and Kimberly say. Forest birds, they mention, usually don’t fly higher than the treetops, while some might perform “song flights” with the intent of finding a mate.
According to Stanford University, most birds stay below 500 feet when making everyday flights. Going higher, they mention, comes with the risks of increased energy expenditure and detection from hawks.
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Which Birds Fly the Highest?
As is the case with flight height, this number varies by the species of bird, time of year, and the purpose of the flight. Birds fly higher during migration than they do on a normal day. While many birds might not go higher than 500 feet during non-migration, during migration, they might climb to double or triple that number.
According to data collected by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s BirdCast team, birds migrating in the East flew at average heights of between 1,300 to 1,600 feet. Birds in the West flew higher, with an average height of about 2,600 feet. Some birds in the West flew higher still, reaching heights of 5,000 to 6,000 feet.
In general, soaring birds like eagles and hawks fly higher than songbirds. The highest-flying bird ever recorded is the Rüppell’s griffon vulture, which was, tragically, ingested by a plane engine at 37,000 feet.
Kenn and Kimberly also note that bar-headed geese, found in Asia, have been observed migrating over the Himalayas above 20,000 feet.
What Is the Largest Flying Bird?
The largest bird capable of flight depends on how one interprets that metric. By weight, the largest bird flying is the kori bustard, native to Africa, which can weigh up to 42 pounds. Also worth noting are trumpeter and mute swans, both of which are capable of flight and weigh approximately 30 pounds.
The bird with the largest wingspan that is also capable of flight is the snowy albatross, whose wings can sprawl up to 11 feet; the Andean condor is right behind it with a wingspan of 10.5 feet. Finally, the tallest bird capable of flight is the sarus crane, which stands nearly 6 feet tall.
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How Do Birds Fly in Flocks Without Colliding?
Kenn and Kimberly explain that birds are excellent at avoiding collisions with other birds due to their phenomenal reflexes. “Studies have shown that each individual in a flying flock pays attention to about seven of the closest birds, reacting instantly when any of them changes course,” they say. “Any shift in direction can spread across the flock in a split second.” They note that while birds can occasionally collide in the air, this happens only if they’re suddenly startled by something.
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Why Do Flying Birds Collide With Airplanes?
On a similar note, while birds are excellent at keeping track of each other as they fly, there are certain obstacles trickier for them to anticipate. One such obstacle? Airplanes. “Birds often collide with planes, but we don’t hear about it except in those rare cases when the bird strike causes the plane to crash or malfunction,” Kenn and Kimberly say. “Birds in flight are good at avoiding collisions with other birds, but airplanes move so fast that a bird’s instinct or reflexes may not be fast enough to get out of the way.”
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Do Birds Fly at Night?
Yes, birds fly at night. While most songbirds are diurnal, meaning they’re active during the day and find places to rest at night, some birds are nocturnal. These birds flying after dark include owls, nighthawks, and nightjars. Other birds call and sing at night or early in the morning during mating season, including northern mockingbirds and American robins.
Interestingly, some birds can even fly while asleep! While scientists are still studying this phenomenon, Kenn and Kimberly mention two species that are capable of getting some shuteye while in flight. “This has been proven for the great frigatebird, a long-winged seabird of tropical oceans: it can sleep for short periods while it soars high in the air,” they say. “The common swift, which migrates from Europe and Asia to spend the winter in Africa, may be flying continuously for up to 10 months. It has to be able to catch some sleep during that time.”
Which Birds Can’t Fly?
Flightless birds certainly exist, but it’d be rare (if not impossible) to spot them in the wild in North America. Many of them, such as penguins, ostriches, and cassowaries, are native to other parts of the world and can only be found in American zoos.
Some North American birds, such as wild turkeys, fly only short distances. While they’re most often seen on the ground, they can fly if threatened or if seeking shelter.
Can Birds Fly in the Rain?
Birds have the capability to fly in the rain, although some species will generally avoid it. Their feathers are waterproof thanks to oil from their preen glands, so rain won’t make them incapable of flight. However, because rain and storms affect the density of the air and can theoretically make it more difficult for birds to fly, experts believe many decide to stay put and conserve energy rather than venturing out.
Waterbirds and shorebirds, however, aren’t as affected by rain — their activities depend on tides — and they are often visible even on a rainy birding day.
About the Experts
Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman are the official bird experts for Birds & Blooms. They are the creators of the Kaufman Field Guide series and they lead birding trips all over the world.
Sources
- HowStuffWorks, “The Largest Flying Bird Varies by Wingspan, Height, and Weight“
- Britannica, “How High Do Birds Fly?“
- Stanford, “How Fast and High Do Birds Fly?“
- National Audubon Society, “Why Do Birds Avoid Flying in the Rain?“
