Have you ever looked up and noticed birds flying unusually low over a field, neighborhood, or open stretch of land?
For generations, people have connected this behavior with changing weather. Grandparents, farmers, sailors, and others who spent a lot of time outdoors often watched birds and other animals for clues that rain or a storm might be approaching.
But is there actually a reason birds sometimes fly lower than usual?
There can be.
Changes in weather conditions can influence both birds and the insects they feed on, which may affect where birds choose to fly. At the same time, not every low-flying bird is a sign that rain is coming.
So what does it mean when birds fly low? Let’s take a closer look at the old saying, the possible science behind it, and the other natural signs people have traditionally associated with approaching weather.
The Old Folk Saying About Birds Flying Low
Long before smartphones, weather apps, radar, and modern forecasts, people had to rely heavily on what they could observe around them.
Farmers watched clouds, plants, insects, and animals. Sailors paid close attention to wind and waves. Communities passed these observations from one generation to the next.
One familiar piece of weather folklore was simple:
When birds fly low, rain may be on the way.
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