- A new study on the flight characteristics of condors, the largest flying birds on Earth, discover that they rarely flap their wings once in midair.
- Condors are capable of flying for over a hundred miles without flapping their wings once.
- This incredibly efficient flying skill was honed over countless generations.
Humans like to think that we are the masters of heaven, but if we are honest with ourselves, we are still amateurs. Animals like the Andean condor have evolved to become the true rulers of the wind, and a new study reveals how easy it is for them to travel long distances with little effort.
The research, which was published in procedures of the National Academy of Sciences, explore the incredible capabilities of this particular species of condor, which is also the world’s heaviest flying bird. They can weigh over 30 pounds, but they can also fly over 100 miles without even flapping their wings.
Scientists have known that condors can fly extreme distances, but for the study, scientists wanted to see how efficient birds were at covering the ground. They equipped some of the birds with flight recorders to record data on their adventures, and what they discovered was truly impressive.
The research team analyzed the data after allowing the animals to travel, and found that the birds flap their wings a lot during takeoff, but that the activity is dramatically reduced once they reach flight height. In fact, three-quarters of flapping condors do so during take-off, and they rarely have to flap their wings while sailing above the ground.
The study found that condors are incredibly adept at flying efficiently once they reach a suitable altitude. The birds “can stay elevated for long periods in a wide range of wind and thermal conditions,” and one of the monitored birds even managed to fly for five hours without flapping its wings. During that time, she covered a distance of over 100 miles, all without fluttering.
Watching the birds from kites to flying eagles, you will wonder if they ever flutter. This question is important, because by the time birds are as big as condors, theory tells us they depend on flying to move, “said Dr. Hannah Williams of Max Planck in a statement.” Our results revealed that the amount of fluttering of the birds did not change substantially with the weather. This suggests decisions about when and where to land are crucial, as not only do condors need to be able to take off again, but unnecessary landings will significantly increase their overall flight costs. “
That’s especially impressive considering its immense size. You might think that the weather would affect their ability to navigate efficiently, but this research shows that they are able to travel incredible distances with little regard for weather conditions.
Mike Wehner has reported on technology and video games for the past decade, covering the latest news and trends in virtual reality, handheld devices, smartphones, and future technology. Most recently, Mike served as technical editor at The Daily Dot, and has appeared on USA Today, Time.com, and countless other websites and in print. His love of reporting is second only to his addiction to games.
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