What is nature’s slowest flying bird?

Flight speed is an important factor in a bird’s ability to catch prey, escape predators, and migrate efficiently. Most bird species are adapted for relatively quick and agile flight. However, some birds have evolved to be nature’s slowest aviators. In this article, we will explore which bird species flies the slowest and why.

Measuring Flight Speed

To determine the slowest flying birds, ornithologists measure level flight speed using various methods. This refers to the speed at which a bird flies in a straight line without ascending or descending. Some techniques used to measure flight speed include:

• Radar tracking: Using Doppler radar to clock a bird’s speed over a set distance.
• Vehicle pacing: Driving a car at the same speed next to a flying bird.
• High speed cameras: Filming flying birds and calculating speed from the footage.
• Radio telemetry: Equipping birds with transmitters and timing their flight between points.

Researchers aim to record multiple flight speed measurements for individual birds to account for variation. The slowest speed observed becomes the species’ typical minimum airspeed.

The Leading Contenders

Several bird species stand out as extreme slowpokes based on flight speed studies. Here are some of the top contenders for the title of world’s slowest flying bird:

American Woodcock

The American woodcock is a medium-sized shorebird known for its unique, fluttering flight display. Radar tracking of American woodcocks in level flight revealed an average speed of only 5.5 meters per second, or 12 miles per hour.

White-crowned Pigeon

This large Caribbean pigeon species flies leisurely with slow, deep wing beats. Radar data showed white-crowned pigeons flying 11 meters per second, or 24 mph.

Greater Flamingo

The iconic greater flamingo flies with slow, languid wing beats. Pacing flamingos with a car yielded an average speed of about 12 meters per second, or 27 mph.

Sandhill Crane

The sandhill crane is North America’s tallest flying bird, with a wingspan over 7 feet. Researchers used plane pacing to determine an average airspeed of 12.5 meters per second, or 28 mph.

And the Winner Is…

Based on the data, the American woodcock flies slower than any other bird during level flight. With an average speed of only 12 mph, this unusual shorebird is nature’s most leisurely aviator. The white-crowned pigeon, greater flamingo, and sandhill crane round out the top four slowest flying birds.

Here is a summary of the slowest flying birds by minimum airspeed:

Reasons for Slow Flight

What makes these birds so slow in the air compared to other avian species? Here are some key reasons:

• Large wingspan: Longer wings generate more lift and drag, slowing flight.
• Low wing loading: More wing area relative to body weight reduces flight speed.
• Slow wingbeat frequency: Less frequent flapping equals slower propulsion.
• Low aspect ratio wings: Short, broad wings create more drag.

Additionally, evolution may have favored slower flight in some species for specific advantages:

• Energy efficiency: Flying slow may allow birds to conserve energy on migration.
• Maneuverability: Slower flight can increase agility to catch prey or dodge predators.
• Lift for large body size: Generates enough lift to get heavy birds airborne.

Implications of Slow Flight

The slow flight of birds like the American woodcock has several implications:

• Increased vulnerability to predators: Slower reaction time to evade attacks.
• Challenges migrating long distances: Harder to travel thousands of miles efficiently.
• Limits feeding on the wing: Less able to catch flying insect prey.
• Difficulty taking off quickly: Require longer runways for takeoff.

On the other hand, some aspects of slow flight may benefit birds, such as stealthier approaches to avoid detection while hunting prey on the ground. Overall, the disadvantages of slowness must be outweighed by other advantages specific to each species’ lifestyle.

Other Slow Flyers

While the American woodcock takes top honors for slowest flight, other birds also fly quite sluggishly compared to their avian cousins. Some additional examples of nature’s slowpokes include:

Turkey Vulture

With a wingspan up to 6 feet, turkey vultures are specialized soarers that flap infrequently. Radar clocked them flying at an average of only 25 mph.

Albatrosses

These ocean wanderers boast the largest wingspans in the bird world. Cruising flight speed for most albatross species is just 25 to 35 mph.

Hummingbirds

Despite beating their wings up to 80 times per second, hummingbirds can only achieve about 30 mph in routine flight due to their tiny size.

Emperor Penguin

As awkward flyers, Emperor penguins plod through the air at speeds around 20 to 30 mph according to high speed camera measurements.

Fastest Flying Birds

For comparison, here are some of the world’s fastest flying birds and their estimated maximum airspeeds:

These speedy fliers exemplify adaptations for rapid flight like long, narrow wings and streamlined bodies. The contrast between Australia’s slowest (American woodcock) and fastest (peregrine falcon) flyers shows the incredible diversity of flight capabilities that have evolved in birds.

Conclusion

The American woodcock flies slower than any other bird, averaging only 12 mph in cruising flight. With its large wingspan, broad wings, and low wingbeat frequency, the American woodcock is optimized for slow, maneuverable flight rather than speed. Other slow flying birds include the white-crowned pigeon, greater flamingo, and sandhill crane. While being slow and steady in the air has some drawbacks, these birds exemplify fascinating adaptations of form and function.