Which aerodynamic disadvantage is increased in birds soaring at very high altitudes due to reduced air density?

💡 Explanation

At high altitudes, reduced air density requires birds to increase their angle of attack to maintain lift during soaring, increasing the production of vortices behind the wing, resulting in higher induced drag. Therefore induced drag is increased, rather than other forms like profile or parasite drag, or effects on thrust, which depend on different mechanisms such as surface friction or frontal area.

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