Like soaring birds, flapping birds have their easiest time staying up with they're facing the wind, but their easiest time moving forward when being pushed by the wind. Coming down safely Many birds, like chickadees and robins, can fly fast until the last seconds and still land easily and safely. Some birds need to slow down for a longer time in order to make a safe landing. Many ducks and geese use their outstretched feet as well as their open wings to increase drag, acting as brakes to slow them. When airplanes are up in the sky, they tuck their landing gear in so it doesn't slow them down.
Most birds do the same thing, by tucking their feet and legs beneath their tummy feathers.
Birds with very long legs or legs too far back on their bodies can't tuck in their legs. They fly with their legs stretched out behind and their neck stretched out ahead. Their long, wide wings allow them to fly using different kinds of flight techniques. When cranes are flying just a few miles or less, they use typical flapping flight. They usually flap with steady beats until they come in for a landing.