soaring

Soaring is a type of flight used by birds and some insects, characterized by sustained gliding without flapping. Birds achieve soaring by utilizing air currents. There are two primary mechanisms: static soaring and dynamic soaring.12

Static soaring relies on vertical air currents, often in the form of thermals (columns of hot air) created by ground heating. Birds like vultures and hawks circle within these thermals to gain altitude before gliding to the next thermal.2

Dynamic soaring is typically performed by seabirds, such as albatrosses, at low altitudes over oceans. It involves using horizontal wind gradients, where wind speed increases with altitude. Birds glide downwind to gain speed and then turn into the wind to use that momentum to gain height.2

While birds can soar, they must initially gain altitude through flapping flight. Soaring allows birds to travel long distances with minimal energy expenditure, making it crucial for migration and hunting.234