Why Do Birds Fly In V Formation? (Explained!) - Birds Of The Wild (2024)

If you see a flock of birds flying above you, they’ll probably be traveling in a V formation. They primarily do this to conserve energy by utilizing the slipstream generated by the bird in front of them. This helps the birds to lower their heart rate and save energy during long migratory journeys.

But energy conservation is not the only reason birds fly in a V formation – discover the other reasons they fly in this shape and how they decide which bird should be the leader.

Why Do Birds Fly In An Uneven V Formation?

Glance up at the sky when birds are flying overhead, and you’ll notice that they form a “V” shape. This isn’t a coincidence – it’s a special technique that serves two important functions.

Firstly, it allows the birds to conserve their energy. They do this by flying slightly above the bird in front, which decreases the wind resistance they experience.

As they get tired, the birds at the front can move further back, while the ones who have expended less energy can work their way forwards. This allows the birds to fly for longer amounts of time before they have to take a rest.

Secondly, it assists in coordination and communication (you’ll also see that fighter planes fly in the same formation for these reasons). The V shape makes it easier to keep track of each bird in the group and provides visual assurance for each of them.

During long migration flights, geese fly in a V formation to conserve energy. However, you may notice that one side of the V is longer than the other. This is sometimes caused by crosswinds, which make it more challenging for birds to fly on one side (the shorter side) than the other. The wind’s strength can also affect the width of the V shape.

The main focus of each bird within the formation is to maintain an optimal position, so they aren’t particularly concerned about how symmetrical the shape is. Instead, they concentrate on keeping themselves behind the wingtip of the bird in front.

The effectiveness of this aerodynamic practice doesn’t depend on how symmetrical the V shape is, so it makes no difference whether one side is longer than the other.

Is V Formation An Intimidation Tactic?

Birds do not use the V formation as an intimidation tactic. To begin with, many of their predators are ground-based. For example, predators of geese include foxes, wild dogs, owls, and raccoons. When they take migratory journeys, they are unlikely to encounter any of these predators while they’re in the air.

When birds feel threatened many will flap their wings and chase the prey as a defense mechanism. Others may spread their wings as wide as possible to make themselves look bigger and more intimidating.

Still, some birds do use flight formations to intimidate (or confuse) predators. Take the starling; a murmuration (or group) of these little birds can have a population of thousands, and scientists have observed them putting on pretty impressive displays.

These researchers have learned that larger, more densely packed groups are likely to gather in areas where predators are present, which could mean they use it as a defense tactic. The advantage of a flying formation makes it easier for birds to communicate with one another; even if just one of them spots potential prey, they can quickly communicate it to the others.

In addition, the sheer number of birds in these gatherings could lead to a phenomenon known as “the confusion effect,” which literally confuses the predator and makes them less likely to attack.

Do All Birds Fly In A V Formation?

Birds fly by using high-pressure air below the wing and low-pressure air above it to create lift. In addition, their body shape forces air down the wings to create a high-pressure vortex at the wingtip.

If a bird can catch this vortex as they fly, it helps them to improve their own lift. But if they fly directly behind the bird in front, they experience low pressure, which is why they emerge as a V rather than a straight line.

Almost all species of birds fly in a V formation thanks to the benefits they derive from it, but there are some exceptions – mainly smaller birds.

When birds with a large wingspan – such as the goose or pelican – fly, they only have to move their wings a few degrees, creating a reasonably neat vortex. In comparison, smaller birds flap their wings faster and erratically, making it difficult for them to create a functioning vortex.

Do The Leaders Of The Birds Fly At The Front?

Some people believe the front-flying bird must be the alpha bird or flock leader, but this is not the case. The front-flying bird has far fewer benefits than those behind them, so they take turns flying on front duty.

Species such as geese rotate the leader each time the front bird gets tired – this allows all group members to conserve their energy for longer, so they don’t require as many rests.

The front bird has to work the hardest because they are flying into undisturbed air. Every other bird can take advantage of aerodynamics by flying in the “sweet spot” of the wingtip vortices. This area experiences increased uplift and decreased drag, enabling the other birds to expend between 20 and 30% less energy.

For this reason, it makes sense for the leader to switch at regular intervals, or they would tire out far more quickly than the rest of the group.

Summary

Birds fly in a V formation because it helps them to conserve energy during long flights. Using the air pressure generated by the bird in front of them, they can increase their lift using less energy.

At times, the V shapes are uneven or longer on one side; this could be due to a crosswind or the fact that the birds don’t care how symmetrical the shape is as long as they position themselves behind the wingtip of another bird.

References

Why do geese fly in a V? | Library of Congress (loc.gov)

Why Do Geese Fly in a V With One Side Longer? – Wildlife Informer

Birds of a feather flock together to confuse potential predators (phys.org)