Of Bombadillos and Balrogs

It certainly doesn't say that it's wings stretched out from wall to wall. In FotR it says, "the shadow about it reached out like two vast wings." Five paragraphs before that FotR states," It was like a great shadow, in the middle of which was a dark form, of man-shape maybe, yet greater and a power and terror seemed to be in it and to go before it." This first paragraph is describing the power that seemed to fill the air around the Balrog. It even had a physical form like a shadow that spread out before it. When it came up to the fire the shadow seems to even have caught fire and blazed. The description of the shadow reaching out is like it has set its power loose after its prey.
It is a powerful description of a powerful entity. It certainly doesn't imply a winged creature.


"If the enemy opens the door, you must race in."