Study Finds Soaring Birds Fly More Efficiently Than Swimming Animals

An international study published in Science reveals that soaring birds use less energy than swimming animals to travel. By analyzing 17 years of tracking data from 850 birds and bats, researchers found that species like Andean condors utilize rising air currents as "free fuel," flapping their wings for as little as 0.1% of their flight time.

Traditional textbook views previously ranked swimming as the most efficient form of animal travel. However, these laboratory-based measurements failed to account for environmental factors like wind and thermal updrafts. While soaring offers significant energy savings, researchers noted that heavier birds face greater restrictions regarding where and when they can fly.

Editor's note: The brief is concise, accurate, and captures the core scientific findings and the nuance regarding the trade-offs for heavier birds. It correctly identifies the study's scope and the primary comparison between soaring and swimming.