In-flight turbulence benefits soaring birds

Birds use atmospheric updrafts to subsidize soaring flight. We observed highly variable soaring flight by Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus) and Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) in Virginia, USA, that was inconsistent with published descriptions of terrestrial avian flight. Birds engaging in this beh...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Auk 2016-01, Vol.133 (1), p.79-85
Main Authors: Mallon, Julie M, Bildstein, Keith L, Katzner, Todd E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air
altitude
BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY
Birds
Cathartes aura
contorted soaring
Coragyps atratus
edge effects
flight
Flight behavior
Ornithology
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Turbulence
turbulent flow
updraft
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Summary:Birds use atmospheric updrafts to subsidize soaring flight. We observed highly variable soaring flight by Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus) and Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) in Virginia, USA, that was inconsistent with published descriptions of terrestrial avian flight. Birds engaging in this behavior regularly deviated vertically and horizontally from linear flight paths. We observed the soaring flight behavior of these 2 species to understand why they soar in this manner and when this behavior occurs. Vultures used this type of soaring mainly at low altitudes (
ISSN:0004-8038
1938-4254
1938-4254
2732-4613
DOI:10.1642/AUK-15-114.1