How swifts control their glide performance with morphing wings

D. Lentink (), U. K. Müller, E. J. Stamhuis, R. de Kat, W. van Gestel, L. L. M. Veldhuis, P. Henningsson, A. Hedenström, J. J. Videler and J. L. van Leeuwen
Additional contact information
D. Lentink: Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University, 6709 PG Wageningen, The Netherlands
U. K. Müller: Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University, 6709 PG Wageningen, The Netherlands
E. J. Stamhuis: Groningen University, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands
R. de Kat: Delft University of Technology, 2629 HS Delft, The Netherlands
W. van Gestel: Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University, 6709 PG Wageningen, The Netherlands
L. L. M. Veldhuis: Delft University of Technology, 2629 HS Delft, The Netherlands
P. Henningsson: Lund University, Ecology Building, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden
A. Hedenström: Lund University, Ecology Building, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden
J. J. Videler: Groningen University, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands
J. L. van Leeuwen: Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University, 6709 PG Wageningen, The Netherlands

Nature, 2007, vol. 446, issue 7139, 1082-1085

Abstract: On the wing Gliding birds continually change the shape and size of their wings, tuning performance by means of morphology. Aerodynamic theory predicts that birds should adjust wing sweep to suit glide speed and now a more refined aerodynamic model has been developed, based on wind-tunnel data. The results reveal a remarkable degree of control: swifts can halve sink speed or triple turning rate by choosing the most suitable sweep. Extended wings are used in slow glides and turns, swept wings for fast glides and (sacrificing lift for load bearing) in fast turns. The efficiency of 'morphing' wings is such that aircraft designers see them as possible successors to current variable-geometry wings: but the swift got there first. The stunning cover photo, by Jean-François Cornuet, shows a gliding swift in a tight turn. Taken at the swift's flight level, it shows how thin and straight the wings remain during a steady glide. Note also that the bird's head is kept horizontal to maintain a level image of its surroundings.

Date: 2007
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/nature05733 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:nature:v:446:y:2007:i:7139:d:10.1038_nature05733

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/

DOI: 10.1038/nature05733

Access Statistics for this article

Nature is currently edited by Magdalena Skipper

More articles in Nature from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().