Eagles are majestic birds found all over the world; there are about 59 different species of eagles found all over the world; they are a wonder to behold, most especially in flight.
Eagles soar on wind currents rather than flapping their wings; they can fly for many hours on end without using up much energy.
Depending on the eagle’s species, they can fly as high as 10,000 to 20,000 feet above sea level. With this height, they can scout for prey far below, and if they find any that interest them, they can dive down at an impressive speed of 75 to 100 miles per hour to grab their prey.
Additionally, Eagles can also fly with a speed of 60 miles per hour, but their average flight speed is 35 to 40 miles per hour.
Eagles can see for over 300 miles from 13,000 feet, giving them substantial hunting ground.
How Is It Possible For Eagles to Fly So High
The wingspan of an eagle is 6.5 feet from one tip to the other; with each flap of their wings, they can cover quite a lot of distance.
To reach such an incredible high height, an eagle uses different wind currents to gain much altitude,
Eagles use energy from the sun that hits close to the surface, and another current is when the wind is deflected from structures such as mountains, ridges, etc.
Eagles make use of these updrafts to glide along mountain tops and ridges to cover several distances without excessively flapping their wings.
The wings of not eagles are not just for impressing their mates; it is to enable them to take advantage of heat rising from either land or sea to soar to incredible heights; they float upwards from rising columns of air to the next, without any form of fear, they are brave and inspiring.
Can Eagles Fly Above Storm Clouds
Yes. They are the only species of birds that love the storm;
Eagles fly into storms and use the winds in the storm to propel their flight higher, they make use of the storm to glide higher without using their strength, amid the storm,
Eagles lock their wings in a fixed position, they are the only species of bird fearless enough to brace flying into storm clouds and using it to their advantages.
To avoid rain, an eagle will fly above the storm cloud and still see clearly into the distance due to their impeccable good vision. They can fly at an altitude of 10,000 feet above sea level.
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Can an Eagle Fly Higher Than an Airplane
No. Generally speaking, an airplane can fly relatively higher than an eagle;
The Ruppell’s griffon vulture, which is the only highest-flying bird in the world, can fly at impressive feet of 37,000, which is the highest altitude any bird in the world can fly, and this is close to the cruising altitude of most large passengers flying jets.
However, a military aircraft can still fly much higher than that feet.
But on a good day, an eagle can fly as high as a small plane but not higher; depending on the species of the eagle, they can wash up to 13,000 feet.
Eagles are animals, hence have the limitations of animals.
There are some heights you tend to go to that the oxygen level will be so depleted that you can survive without artificial means; the same goes for the eagles.
What sets them apart from other birds is their speed, agility, and very keen eyesight; they are monogamous and live for life in one home.
Can an Eagle Fly Higher Than a Crow
Yes. To get rid of crows, Eagles can fly higher, with their vast wingspan and their ability to ride at wind altitude.
To avoid a battle with crows which may lead to eagles having injuries, eagles will fly higher than the crows.
Crow flies long distances but not at a high altitude, crows cannot kill eagles but can be a source of nuisance to them, crows can mob, dive-bomb, or loud-squawk an eagle, but in a one-on-one battle, an eagle can kill a crow.
Crows tend to attack eagles if the eagles are trying to close in on a crow’s nest, eggs, or chick, but an eagle is willing to avoid any form of a fight with crows to prevent injuries.
Can an Eagle Fly Across an Ocean
Depending on the species of eagles, some eagles will fly across oceans, they are called sea eagles, and they get their food from the sea; another species is the Bald eagles.
While other species do not tend to fly across the open ocean, most times, eagles depend on winds to fly higher;
It is easier for eagles to fly over lands than water; they boast broad and long wings with about 24-32 inches in length and weigh between two to five kilos depending on their gender.
According to the New York Times, a North American bald eagle flew across the Atlantic and landed exhausted in Ireland; the eagle flew 3,000 miles across the ocean.
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Can an Eagle Fly Backwards
No. The eagle can not fly backward. Only a few birds have the power to fly backward, and the hummingbird is one of those few birds that can fly backward,
The hummingbird hover, rotate its body in any direction, and then fly either backward or forward.
The lack of ability for other birds to fly backward in most bird species is due to the function of their wings;
Wings birds feature extra-strong muscles to pull their wings downwards and weaker muscles to pull their wings back up, they rely primarily on wind resistance to do most of the work.
In contrast, some birds like the eagles may give the illusion of flying backward; they cannot still do so without the winds.
After soaring into the sky, the eagle circles both ways, clockwise and anti-clockwise, but when riding on thermals, the fixation of their path is clockwise only.
Conclusion
Eagles are at the top of the food chains, known for their power and strength; some of their species can feed on big prey like the sloth and the monkey; they have fantastic eyesight.
They can detect games for over a mile away, their vision is five times better than that of a human, and there are over 60 species of eagles with an average lifespan of 20 years to 30 years
They have got the perfect blend of aggression and gracefulness, earning their well-deserved title as the birds of prey.
