What adaptation allows Buteos to soar and conserve energy?

Buteos, which are a group of medium to large raptors commonly known as hawks, possess broad wings as a key adaptation that enables them to soar efficiently and conserve energy during flight. The wide wingspan allows for increased lift, which is essential for using thermal updrafts—hot air rising from the ground—to gain altitude without expending excessive energy. By spreading their broad wings, Buteos can glide on these updrafts for extensive periods, making them well-suited for hunting and surveying vast areas for prey while minimizing the physiological demands associated with flapping flight.

The alternative choices do represent different features that can occur in birds of prey but do not serve the same purpose as the broad wings in terms of energy conservation during soaring. Short tails, for example, may lack the control and maneuverability needed for precise navigation in the air. High-speed maneuverability is beneficial for certain hunting approaches—especially for other raptors—but it does not contribute to efficient soaring. Ground-oriented hunting behavior does not relate to flight adaptations, as it focuses more on how these birds find and catch their prey rather than how they fly. Thus, broad wings are specifically advantageous for the soaring habits that define many Buteos.