Albatrosses are some of the most impressive birds in the world, capable of soaring through the air with ease and grace. While they are often seen gliding through the sky, many may not be aware of how these birds manage to feed while in flight. Here, we take a closer look at the remarkable way albatrosses eat while flying.
Albatross in Flight
Albatrosses are powerful birds that can fly for hours at a time without flapping their wings. They take advantage of thermals and updrafts to stay in the air, often traveling long distances in search of food. Albatrosses have a wingspan of up to 11 feet, allowing them to cover great distances and stay in the air for long periods of time.
Eating on the Go
Albatrosses are able to feed while in flight by using a unique technique called “skimming.” They will fly close to the surface of the water and scoop up fish, squid, and other prey with their long beaks. They also eat floating food such as jellyfish and plankton. Albatrosses have been known to fly up to 10 feet above the surface of the water in order to catch their food.
Albatrosses also use their long wings to help them feed while in flight. They will flap their wings in order to create an updraft, which helps them to catch food that has been stirred up from the surface of the water. This technique is known as “dynamic soaring.”
Albatrosses are also able to take advantage of the wind to help them feed. They will fly in a “V” formation in order to take advantage of the wind currents, allowing them to travel long distances without expending too much energy.
Albatrosses are remarkable birds that are able to feed while in flight. They use a combination of skimming, dynamic soaring, and wind currents to catch their food without having to land. This allows them to cover great distances in search of food and stay in the air for long periods of time.