How can birds still fly if they have to constantly eat to have enough energy to fly? Doesn’t eating make them so heavy that they need even more energy to keep flying?

Question

When I watch the birds at the feeding station in my garden, I notice that individual birds often eat a lot at once. Doesn’t all that food make them so heavy that they need more energy/food to fly than they can carry in flight?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Birds are incredibly efficient with their energy and have very high metabolisms. When they eat, their bodies quickly convert food into energy, so they don’t carry much extra weight for long. Their lightweight bones and strong muscles help them fly even after a big meal.