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How do Birds Learn How to Fly?

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

Birds learn how to fly much like a human toddler learns to walk: a combination of instinct and practice. Not all birds are instinctive flyers, however. Flightless birds, such as penguins and ostriches, no longer have the instinct to imitate their airborne cousins. Newborns of bird species that do fly, such as pigeons or hummingbirds, have an innate sense that it is a natural act. Compare this to a human baby who instinctively understands that standing upright is a natural goal to achieve.

Most birds cannot fly until their muscle structure has had time to develop. In the meantime, the nest becomes their entire world. Baby birds are not responsible for food gathering or protection of the nest, so they generally develop a psychological dependence that must be overcome. Parent birds begin to teach their fledglings the importance of flying by remaining a short distance away from the nest during feeding. If the young birds are to survive, they must step away from the nest. Frequently, this means a few hard falls to the ground followed a long trip back to the safety of the nest.

A flying hummingbird.
A flying hummingbird.

All of this practice time, awkward as it may seem, does teach the fledgling about the mechanics of flight. Falls to the ground become more controlled as the young bird stretches out its wings, and short hops back to the nest become longer flights. Bird parents continue to encourage their brood to leave the nest for longer periods of time. Some species actually adopt a tough love policy, leaving the fledglings alone to develop their own instincts.

Parent birds must slowly teach baby birds to become independent and learn to fly to find food.
Parent birds must slowly teach baby birds to become independent and learn to fly to find food.

After a few weeks of practice and imitation, young birds learn more advanced flying techniques: how to use the wind for lift, how to spot rising thermals and how to make controlled landings. Eventually, all of these elements become instinctive and young birds can start families of their own. The teaching process begins anew as these birds teach their own young how to fly.

Birds like pigeons have an innate sense of flying as a natural act.
Birds like pigeons have an innate sense of flying as a natural act.

For birds, flying is an incredibly taxing exercise. Some bird experts compare it to human jogging times ten. Fortunately, many birds have air sacs that act as auxiliary lungs, and each breath a bird takes is much more concentrated than an equivalent human breath. Birds also have very well-developed pectoral muscles for constant wing motion and an exceptionally strong heart for endurance. Hollow bones reduce drag and the natural curve of the wings creates significant lift. Most birds are literally swimming through the air, using the weight of the air beneath them to keep them aloft.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do birds learn to fly?

Some birds, like ostriches, cannot fly and do not have the instinct.
Some birds, like ostriches, cannot fly and do not have the instinct.

Birds learn to fly through a combination of instinct, practice, and parental guidance. Initially, they start with wing flapping to strengthen muscles. Parents encourage their young to leave the nest, a process called fledging, and the young birds practice with short flights, gradually improving their skills through trial and error and mimicking adult birds.

At what age do birds start to fly?

The age at which birds begin to fly varies by species, but generally, they start flying at 3 to 4 weeks old. For example, altricial birds, which are born blind and featherless, may take longer to develop the necessary feathers and strength, while precocial birds, which are more developed at birth, may start flying sooner.

Do all birds learn to fly in the same way?

No, not all birds learn to fly in the same way. Different species have different learning processes, influenced by their environment and survival strategies. For instance, ground-dwelling birds may have less emphasis on flight and more on running, while birds of prey have intricate flying lessons to hone hunting skills.

What role do parents play in teaching their young to fly?

Parent birds play a crucial role in teaching their young to fly. They provide food and protection, encourage fledglings to leave the nest, demonstrate flying techniques, and sometimes guide them in the air. Parental involvement varies among species, with some being more hands-on than others in teaching flight.

Can birds that are injured or disabled learn to fly?

Birds that are injured or disabled can sometimes learn to fly again with proper care and rehabilitation. Wildlife rehabilitators often assist in the recovery process, providing physical therapy and controlled flight exercises. However, the success of relearning to fly depends on the nature and extent of the injury.

Is it possible for a bird to never learn to fly?

Yes, it is possible for a bird to never learn to fly if it faces developmental issues, injuries, or disabilities that prevent it from gaining the necessary strength or coordination. Additionally, some birds, like domestic chickens, have been bred in ways that limit their flight capabilities due to factors like body weight and wing structure.

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

A regular AllThingsNature contributor, Michael enjoys doing research in order to satisfy his wide-ranging curiosity about a variety of arcane topics. Before becoming a professional writer, Michael worked as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.

Learn more...
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

A regular AllThingsNature contributor, Michael enjoys doing research in order to satisfy his wide-ranging curiosity about a variety of arcane topics. Before becoming a professional writer, Michael worked as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon337354

@lawnmowerman: Blue-fronted Amazons usually give up flying in captivity. They are natural climbers with an incredibly strong grip. Don't worry about your Amazon not flying. In fact, forcing it to fly may be harmful!

anon335578

I found a baby bird today and it has all its feathers and is starting to fly. How long before it can fly on its own?

anon318633

Yes, anon82696, birds (Crows and ravens) can catch the T-Virus.

lawnmowerman

We have taken in a blue fronted amazon about 14 months old. He is clearly overweight at just under a kilo. We are pretty sure that this bird has been basically cage bound until we took him in. The problem we have is he won't fly!

I liken it to a small child standing at the edge of the swimming pool, swaying back and forth but not making that final leap. How do we teach him to fly?

Help in the biggest possible way, please.

anon89652

Penguins have not lost their inclination to 'fly'. Rather, they have adapted flying to produce motion through the water. When a penguin learns to swim, it adapts the same instincts that flying birds use to bootstrap their learning process. Penguins don't swim like most other animals. They fly through the water.

anon82696

Can birds catch the T-Virus?

anon81575

i have found a baby bird and she is very young and i don't know what to do.

anon38483

i have found a nest with four baby birds in my bbq one day and there was a party with a lot of people so it was frequently being opened and two days later i haven't found the mother and figured out that maybe she left so i took a chance and fed the birds so it wouldn't starve. I fed the birds meat. is it better to feed them seeds? When will they be able to fly? Can they fly without a parent showing them?

anon33367

I found a baby bird on my porch about three days ago. It had fallen from a nest in the column on the porch. I was unable to put the bird back into the nest. I made a ready make nest out of a bowl and filled it with tissue. The bird hardly has any feathers and I don't see the parents feeding the bird but I'm pretty sure they are because it is alert and going to the bathroom in the bowl. How long does it take for a bird to fly? I worry about stray cats finding the bird.

anon25875

I found a bird egg and I was wondering how to tell if its alive?

karin

My baby pigeon is able to fly short distances, but unable to ascend- how do they get back up to the nest? Will the mother take him back after a few days - I have been feeding him and giving him flying practice every day and he is getting stronger. Please advise - what now?

anon11923

We just had two baby birds fall from a very high tree. Since we were unable to put them back, we placed them in a box and place the box on our trampoline. Fortunately,

mama bird continues to feed them. The good news is we have several lab retriever's that keep the neighborhood cats away. The bad news is we have lab retriever's, and I'm concerned when the babies try flying there may be? a problem. We keep the dogs in as much as possible. It has been about a week and the babies are doing good. Does anyone know how long it takes for birds to be ready to fly? They already had feathers when we found them.

jendufner

so how do the baby birds get back into the nest after falling to the ground?

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    • A flying hummingbird.
      By: Steve Byland
      A flying hummingbird.
    • Parent birds must slowly teach baby birds to become independent and learn to fly to find food.
      By: zidianphoto
      Parent birds must slowly teach baby birds to become independent and learn to fly to find food.
    • Birds like pigeons have an innate sense of flying as a natural act.
      By: Vidady
      Birds like pigeons have an innate sense of flying as a natural act.
    • Some birds, like ostriches, cannot fly and do not have the instinct.
      By: RCH
      Some birds, like ostriches, cannot fly and do not have the instinct.