They can fly very well and much longer distances than alot of people realize. BUT that doesn't mean they have to like it or will do it often. The principal muscles used to fly by all birds are the chest/breast muscles. "White meat/muscle" like those on most upland birds chests(turkeys, quail etc...) is made for explosive power and for climbing quickly and then gliding/sailing too security. Themusclestructure of that white meat provides tremendous take off andacceleration, but it'sshorton fullpower stamina.Upland birdwings are also much shorter yet widerin relation too their body. Those wings are built for alot of sudden lift to gain altitude quickly. That is why they EXPLODE upward from a stationary point when startled suddenly. It also takes ALOT more energy for a 20# turkey to fly than it does to run the same distance (look at theirthighmuscles in relation too the rest of their musculature.Most any upland bird is a tremendous runner andcan run full tilt over ground for greatdistances.

"Dark meat/muscle" is found on long distance flyers like most migratory birds like waterfowl, doves and songbirds. Their wings are also much longer and thinner (in relation to their bodysize)for flying long distances. This is why many waterfowl have to "run on thewater" several yards before they take fully too the air. They have to reach enough airspeed for their wings to fully gain enough lift to thengain altitude quickly because of that general wing shape (that's why fighter aircraft typically have smaller wings in relation too their fuselage compared too those found on cargo/passenger craft).

Aint nature neat? "Pothole" ducks like mallards and grays have a good combination wingsize to allow them to pop-up and take off quickly while floating stationary. Geese and most coastal ducks (rafters, floaters etc...) usually have to "run" across the water or ground before reaching enough airspeed to yield lift from their wings. It's also fascinating too me that much of what we know about aircraft and flight came from our studies of birds. Not only in their shapes and aerodynamics but on the study of their skeletal systems for help in designing stronger yet lighter aircraft.

Sorry for the wandering,
RA