National Wildlife Federation’s Post

Just Keep... Breathing 🛫 Did you know lungs help birds soar longer? 👀 In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have identified a specialized air-filled sac attached to the lungs of soaring avian species, including such diverse birds as bald eagles, turkey vultures, brown pelicans, and western gulls. The structure seems to boost the power of these birds’ flight muscles while soaring, allowing them to remain aloft for long periods without flapping their wings. Called the subpectoral diverticulum, the air sac has evolved only in lineages of soaring birds. Read the National Wildlife Magazine Winter 2025 Issue 📚: https://ow.ly/vIKg50UEvbx #wildlife #nature #birds #flying #science #evolution