10 Fascinating Birds That Sleep While Flying

10 Fascinating Birds That Sleep While Flying

By Archisha Yadav | November 19, 2024

Alpine Swifts can stay in the air for up to 200 days. They sleep in short bursts while gliding, using specialised brain functions to stay alert.

Image: Canva

Alpine Swifts

Frigatebirds sleep with one brain hemisphere active while flying. This allows them to navigate and stay aware of their surroundings over long oceanic journeys.

Image: Canva

Frigatebirds

Common Swifts are known to remain airborne for up to 10 months, sleeping while gliding at high altitudes, mostly during migration.

Image: Canva

Common Swifts

Great Frigatebirds rest in short episodes while soaring. These tropical birds balance minimal sleep with long-distance flights over the ocean.

Image: Canva

Great Frigatebirds

Manx Shearwaters take brief naps while flying over the sea. Their ability to sleep in motion helps them survive long migrations.

Image: Canva

Manx Shearwaters

White-chinned Petrels sleep while gliding across vast oceanic areas. This adaptation supports their non-stop migration for food.

Image: Canva

 White-chinned Petrels

Northern Gannets nap mid-flight during their extended journeys over the sea, especially while searching for fish near the surface.

Image: Canva

Northern Gannets

These tropical birds are known to sleep in short bursts during long flights, especially when travelling between nesting and feeding grounds.

Image: Canva

Red-footed Booby

Bar-tailed Godwits rest minimally while flying thousands of miles non-stop between breeding and wintering areas, even across continents.

Image: Canva

Bar-tailed Godwits

Sooty Shearwaters rely on short naps during their record-breaking migrations, covering over 64,000 kilometres annually. 

Image: Canva

Sooty Shearwaters

Next: 10 Animals That Don’t Have a Brain But Can Learn
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