What is the secret behind flying in V shape ? What advantages do birds gain from it? Photo:@Lakshmy CUBE
Place: Mampilly Thrissur
Date:13/05/2025
Time:6.15pm
[17/05, 10:36 am] ayanasudheer: Good photo @Theertha I have also observed birds following a V pattern. I noticed, it is like a ‘leader bird’ and the rest are following in a v pattern. The leader bird might be setting the speed and direction and the rest adjusting to it? Maybe for better visual communication they follow V pattern? My guess.
What are the other benefits?
[17/05, 10:37 am] Theertha: This V shape can do anything with balancing the air pressure? @ayanasudheer @Lakshmy CUBE and others
[17/05, 1:23 pm] Vijaya Tilak CUBE: Flamingos also follow the same pattern, leftover birds in the flock are usually admitted in the middle and none of the birds are left behind.
[17/05, 1:28 pm] Vijaya Tilak CUBE: Energy conservation
[17/05, 1:40 pm] Vijaya Tilak CUBE: Crows, pigeons sparrows don’t follow this pattern
[17/05, 1:47 pm] ayanasudheer: Why birds fly in a V shape
Could this apply to other birds?
While the study focused on ibises, researchers believe the same energy-saving strategy could apply to other large birds like geese, pelicans, and storks, the report suggests. Their long wings help them ride the updrafts from the bird ahead. Smaller birds, on the other hand, may not get the same benefit, as their wingbeats create more chaotic air patterns that are harder to use.
It can apply to many other migratory birds as well. Species such as pelicans, cranes, flamingos, and even some ducks use this aerodynamic strategy. Flying in a V helps save energy as the birds behind take advantage of air currents created by the leader, reducing drag.
[17/05, 3:38 pm] Theertha: According to researchers, the birds mostly fly around a metre behind and a metre off to the side up front. Now when the bird in front flaps its wings a vortex of air directly behind is pushed downwards which is called downwash.
This creates a pressure difference. Due to this, the air below the wings is of higher pressure than the air above the wings. And as usual, the air moves from the region of higher pressure to the region of lower pressure in the upward direction which is called upwash.
Now the bird situated in another bird’s upwash has to spend a lot less energy to fly since they are already being pushed upwards by the upwash of the bird in front of it.
The V-Formation of birds situates each member back and to the side directly in its neighbour’s upwash. The pressure difference increases as we go at the end of the V-Formation, so the birds at the back spend very less energy than the birds upfront. This formation also helps fighter aircraft to improve their fuel efficiency.