- Thermals: Eagles and other large soaring birds use thermals, which are columns of warm air rising from the ground. Their excellent vision allows them to spot these thermals and exploit them for energy-efficient flight.
- Saving Energy: Soaring allows eagles to cover vast distances without expending excessive energy. This is particularly important during long migrations or when searching for food.
- Gaining Altitude: By using thermals, eagles can gain significant altitude, allowing them to reach high vantage points for hunting, surveying their territory, or spotting potential mates.
- Hunting Advantages: Soaring provides a wide field of view from above, helping eagles locate prey and assess their surroundings. It also enables them to silently approach their prey without being detected.
Additional reasons for flying:
- Hunting: Eagles fly to search for and pursue their prey, which includes fish, small mammals, and other birds.
- Nest Building: Eagles build large nests in trees or on cliff ledges, and they may fly long distances to gather suitable materials for nest construction.
- Migration: Many eagle species are migratory and fly long distances between breeding and wintering grounds.
- Courtship: Eagles engage in courtship displays involving aerial acrobatics and soaring, which helps establish pair bonds and strengthen relationships within a mating pair.