BIRDS

HOW BIRDS ARE ABLE TO FLY

Birds are built for flying. They have bones and feathers that make them very light. Most of their bones are hollow and act like airpockets. Birds are mostly feathers and feathers do not weigh much. Birds have wings to help them fly. They have strong muscles to be able to fly for long periods of time.

KINDS OF WINGS and WAYS THAT BIRDS FLY

Not all birds' wings are the same. Not all birds fly in the same way. Birds soar, glide, flap their wings quickly, hover and dive.

Birds that have long, pointed wings (like the gull) or broad wings (like the eagle ) are able to SOAR . They can ride the updrafts of air.

The wings of pigeons, ducks, and other water birds are called general-purpose wings. They just keep FLAPPING their wings in order to stay in the air.

The hummingbirds wings beat so quickly that they look like a blur. The hummingbird is able to HOVER (fly in one place) while it sips nectar from flowers. It can even fly backwards.

The loon is not a good flier. Its wings are useful for DIVING under the water. In order to fly, the loon must flap its narrow wings long and hard to lift its heavy body out of the water.


Penguins have wings but do not fly.
Their narrow wings are like flippers.
They are able to move quickly through the water
and can use the wings for balance when they walk.


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Go to my other pages about birds:

MIGRATION | WINTER BIRDS | ARCTIC BIRDS |

Endangered birds - WHOOPING CRANE and BURROWING OWL





J.Giannetta, 2003
updated 2011

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