Nightjar wings reveal a trade-off between hunting slowly and traveling far
The European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) is a nocturnal migratory bird that travels between Europe and southern Africa each year. However, its wings are not only used for long-distance journeys. When hunting insects, the nightjar must be able to slow down, turn sharply and fly at low speeds. Researchers at Lund University have now shown how this trade-off is reflected in the bird's flight…
The European nightjar, a nocturnal migratory bird, faces a trade-off between slow, maneuverable flight and efficient lift generation at higher speeds. Researchers at Lund University discovered that the bird's broad wingtips, beneficial for slow flying, reduce lift efficiency as speed increases. This finding challenges the notion of a perfectly optimized flying machine for long-distance migration.
The study, published in PLOS Biology, also revealed that nightjars generate thrust during the upward movement of their wings, a previously uncommon trait among birds. These aerodynamic adaptations suggest that evolution has favored a balance between various flight requirements, such as breeding, foraging, slow flight, and maneuverability.
This research may inspire the development of new types of flapping aircraft and deepen our understanding of the diverse aerodynamic principles in nature.
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