Vultures can soar for hours without flapping their wings.

Vultures are masters of static soaring, a technique that allows them to remain airborne for over 100 miles (160 kilometers) without a single wing beat. This behavior relies on thermal convection, where the sun heats the ground, causing the air above it to rise. These columns of warm air, known as thermals, provide the lift necessary for large birds to ascend without burning metabolic fuel.Research published in the journal 'Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences' (PNAS) highlights that Andean Condors, the world's heaviest soaring birds, spend only 1% of their flight time flapping. One tracked bird flew for five hours and covered 106 miles (172 kilometers) without flapping once. This efficiency is critical for scavengers that must cover vast territories to find unpredictable food sources.Vultures use a method called 'thermal soaring' to spiral upward within a rising air column until they reach the top. Once they gain enough height, they glide toward the next thermal in a process called 'cross-country soaring.' Their broad wings and slotted primary feathers are evolutionary adaptations that reduce drag and maximize lift at low speeds.By utilizing these atmospheric energy sources, vultures keep their heart rates low and conserve energy for other vital functions. This specialized flight strategy allows them to scan thousands of square miles of terrain daily. Without the ability to exploit thermals, these heavy birds would likely exhaust themselves within minutes of active, flapping flight.