Bird Flight Speeds: Effects of Size and Evolution
Author Information
Author(s): Alerstam Thomas, Rosén Mikael, Bäckman Johan, Ericson Per G. P, Hellgren Olof
Primary Institution: Lund University
Hypothesis
Does the cruising speed of different migrating bird species in flapping flight scale with body mass and wing loading according to aerodynamic theory?
Conclusion
The study found that mass and wing loading do not scale as predicted by aerodynamic theory, and phylogeny significantly influences bird flight speeds.
Supporting Evidence
- Flight speeds were measured for 138 species of birds using tracking radar.
- Mass and wing loading accounted for only a limited proportion of the variation in flight speed.
- Phylogeny was a powerful factor in explaining the variation in flight speed.
Takeaway
Birds fly at different speeds based on their size and shape, but their family history also plays a big role in how fast they can go.
Methodology
The study used tracking radar to measure the flight speeds of 138 bird species during migration, analyzing the data in relation to body mass and wing loading.
Potential Biases
Potential biases from the number of tracks per species and within-species variation in speed.
Limitations
The study may not account for all ecological and behavioral factors influencing flight speed.
Participant Demographics
Bird species ranging from 0.01 kg to 10 kg in mass.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Confidence Interval
0.31–0.40
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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