they use it to steer their body in the sky
Tails for most flying birds help them steer while flying. This applies for the elf owl.
Most birds use their tails for balance and steering while flying. Some use them to show off and attract mates. For birds that can't fly, the tail could just be for balance while running like with the ostrich.
Insects do have tails. They use it just like birds do.
Honey badgers use their tails to climb trees to raid the nests of birds.
The Chinease had saw how the birds were flying and changing directions from their tails. The same property they used to make this rudder.
Yes, birds fly if they have salt on their tails. I put some salt on the end of my bird's tail. She flew to the cage and the salt fell off.
Birds use their tails for steering, stabilizing, and controlling their speed during flight. By adjusting the angle of their tail feathers, birds can change direction quickly and maintain balance while in the air. Tail movements also help birds navigate through complex aerial maneuvers.
Past tense: The flock of birds was flying. Present tense: The flock of birds is flying. (flock is a collective noun)
Chickens can fly , but they are low flying birds.
Birds feel colder when they are flying
Flying birds are not always larger. There are many bats bigger than many kinds of birds.
Well most birds don't hold up their tails constantly. Sounds like your sparrow has a problem. But birds do used their tails for balance and to help them change direction when flying. Sorry, for the brief answer, maybe you should talk to a veterinarian maybe an park ranger they have lots of answers.