Which birds fly in formation? (1 Viewer)

[Laurie93]

Hello,
After seeing a large flock of white birds flying in formation in the south of France on the beach (didn’t have my bins with me so no ID), it got me wondering, apart from the obvious (eg. geese), which birds use formation flying to save energy on long flights?

 

[maltese falcon]

herons and cranes I think

 

[fugl]

Also gulls & pelicans.

 

[fugl]

herons and cranes I think

Cranes certainly but I don't know about herons. The ones I most frequently see in any numbers--Great & Snowy Egrets--tend to fly in irregular bunches not in formation.

 

[Laggard]

I saw six great blue herons flying what certainly looked to me like a V shaped formation.

One of my favorite jokes. Q: When geese fly south, why is one side of the V usually longer than the other? A: There are more geese on that side.

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

Cormorants do. We see flocks of them from our hawkwatch.

Loons do not. They travel as singles or pairs at most.

 

[skylark25]

Herons, Egrets, Gulls, Geese, Cormorants, Ducks, Spoonbills and Cranes come to my mind right now

all herons i see here in Malta fly in v formations...they're wonderful to spot and watch as they fly over

 

[Laurie93]

Herons, Egrets, Gulls, Geese, Cormorants, Ducks, Spoonbills and Cranes come to my mind right now

all herons i see here in Malta fly in v formations...they're wonderful to spot and watch as they fly over

What sort of herons do you see in Malta?
I’m thinking about university there.