How Can the Currents Help Birds Hover?

All birds utilize air currents to fly, and some also use air currents to hover. Humans have studied birds in flight and hovering behavior for thousands of years as they developed the science of aerodynamics. Principles of bird hovering are used in airplane design and hang glider operation.

  1. Windhovering

    • When a bird hovers, it does not move forward, but remains in one spot, suspended in the air. There are two types of hovering: one where the wings are in a constant motion, like a hummingbird, according to Learner.org, and the other--windhovering--is used by larger birds that float on top of strong air currents, such as a headwind.

    Headwind

    • A headwind is a powerful, steady air current that lifts and supports the bird's wings so it can remain stationary in the air. Hovering birds, such as hawks, buzzards or gulls, must fly into the headwind at a speed that matches the wind's force in order to hover, according to Stanford University.

    Tailwind

    • The same air current can help a bird hover or propel the bird into flight, according to Birdwatchersgeneralstore.com. A headwind effectively turns into a tailwind when a bird no longer faces into it.

    Updraft

    • An updraft is an air current created when wind hits a vertical surface, such as a tall building or a cliff face, and goes up. According to Shearwater.nl, seabirds, like the albatross, use updraft air currents to hover, which is the same manner humans utilize when they para-sail or hang glide off a cliff.

    Thermal Currents

    • Desert birds, like buzzards and vultures, use heated air currents, called thermals, to hover. Thermal currents rise from the super-heated desert floor during the day and support the birds' wings.

    No Wind Currents

    • Some seabirds, like stormy petrels, can use their strong wing muscles to hover when there is no wind, according to Shearwater.nl.