You may have heard someone say:
“When birds fly low, rain is on the way.”
It’s an old observation, and there are circumstances in which environmental changes before or during unsettled weather can affect bird behavior.
For example, insects can respond to
changes in atmospheric conditions, wind, and humidity. Birds that feed on insects may then change where they search for food.
That can make it appear as though the birds “know” rain is coming.
But this doesn’t mean every flock flying low is predicting rainfall.
Bird behavior is influenced by many factors, so low-flying birds should not be treated as a dependable weather forecast.
What About Birds Flying High?
Interestingly, the opposite behavior can be just as normal.
Birds may fly high when conditions allow them to take advantage of favorable
air currents or when they’re traveling long distances.
Migrating birds can travel at considerable altitudes depending on the species, terrain, weather, and route.
So if you see birds soaring high one day and flying low the next, that doesn’t necessarily mean anything is wrong.
They may simply be responding to different conditions.
Does Bird Flight Height Change With the Seasons?
Absolutely!
Bird behavior can change throughout the year as food availability, temperature, daylight, breeding activity, and migration patterns change.
During migration, some species travel much higher than they would during
ordinary daily movements.
