Exploring the Diverse Flying Styles of Birds

Birds like American crows and Canada geese use direct flight, flying in straight lines with strong, steady wing beats

Finches and woodpeckers display undulating flight, alternating between flapping and passive glides or bounds in an up-and-down patter

Birds like glossy ibis and tree swallows exhibit a flap-and-glide technique, alternating wing flaps with gliding to conserve energy during flight

Barn owls and killdeer display moth-like flight, fluttering their wings to swiftly change speed and direction, creating unpredictable patterns

Golden eagles and turkey vultures utilize static soaring, spreading their wings to ride warm air currents and effortlessly glide through the sky