How different bird wings work
‘Wing-ing’ it has never looked so good!
Did you know? Different wing shapes come with different benefits.
Like how taller and shorter people may be better at different sports (think of boxing, where one’s long reach is an advantage, compared to gymnastics, where a shorter gymnast may find it easier to rotate in the air), different wing shapes and lengths come with their pros and cons.
In today’s article, we'll delve into the mechanics of bird flight and explore the different types of wings that different species of birds have!
An exploration of feathered flight: the four different types of wings
There are four types of wings in birds: Passive soaring, active soaring, elliptical wings, and high-speed wings.
1) Passive soaring wings, like in eagles and hawks!
These are the laid-back birds of the wing world.
Birds with passive soaring wings have long primary feathers that spread out, creating "slots" that allow the bird to catch vertical columns of hot air called "thermals" and rise higher in the air.
Eagles and vultures are excellent examples of birds with passive soaring wings: they use air currents to stay aloft for extended periods of time without flapping their wings at all.
Vultures, with their broad, passive soaring wings, are well-suited to their scavenging lifestyle. A vulture's wingspan can be as wide as six to seven feet and the broad wingspan and round tips of the wings work together to create lift, which allows the vulture to stay aloft for long periods of time without flapping its wings - perfect for conserving energy while scanning the horizon for carrion!
Many of you will probably be familiar with this scene: dozens of big birds just soaring over air thermals, going round and round and round and round.
While passive soaring wings are great for conserving energy and covering large areas of territory, they do have some drawbacks.
For example, vultures and other passive soaring birds can struggle to take off from the ground or navigate through tight spaces. This is because the large wingspan and broad shape of the wings make it difficult for these birds to maneuver in tight spaces, and their slow flapping speed means they require a LOT of room to take off from the ground!
2) Active soaring wings, like in pelicans!
Bird with these wings are a little more active than their passive soaring counterparts, but they still love to glide.
Albatrosses, pelicans, and gulls are great examples of birds with active soaring wings. These birds have slightly shorter, more rounded wings that allow them to soar, but also flap.
That’s because, in the case of albatrosses, pelicans and gulls (which are all birds found near the water and not so much near hot air thermals) these birds NEED to flap their wings frequently to maintain altitude!
This makes them well-suited to the often harsh conditions of the open ocean. Their active wings give them the ability to flap through storms, over rough waters, and in strong winds - all while ALSO being able to rest, glide, and conserve energy when needed.
Just think of them as the all-around athletes of the bird world!
3) Elliptical wings, like in swifts and swallows!
Birds with these wings are the sprinters of the sky, using their wings to fly at high speeds for short periods of time.
Swifts and swallows are birds with elliptical wings that use their wings to fly at incredible speeds to catch insects on the wing.
They have short, rounded wings that allow them to make quick turns and fly in tight spaces, but they also tire quickly and need to rest often. They're like the sprinter Usain Bolt: fast but with a limited endurance. (And in the sky, of course!)
The elliptical shape of the wings allows for good speed and maneuverability, making it possible for swallows to perform acrobatic twists and turns to catch their prey - which is especially important for them as they catch their prey in mid-air!
When it comes to the pros and cons of elliptical wings, there's really only one con: they're not great for soaring.
However, this is a small price to pay for the amazing flight capabilities that these wings provide. In fact, some bird enthusiasts argue that the maneuverability of elliptical wings more than makes up for their inability to soar!
4) High-speed wings, like in falcons!
These birds are the speed demons of the sky, designed for maximum speed and maneuverability.
Falcons, peregrine falcons, and the gyrfalcon are birds with high-speed wings. They have long, pointed wings that allow them to dive at incredible speeds to catch their prey.
The downside is that they tire quickly and have limited soaring ability, but who needs to soar when you can dive bomb at 200 mph?
I would say that elliptical wings and high-speed wings are similar, but with a few key differences in the way they function. Elliptical wings are designed for agility, allowing birds to make sharp turns and sudden stops, whereas high-speed wings are designed for maximum speed.
My heart’s a-flutter over all these cool fun facts!
So if you’ve ever wondered why some birds can fly for hours on end without flapping their wings, while others zip by at lightning speed - it all comes down to the type of wings they have!
Whether it's passive soaring, active soaring, elliptical, or high-speed wings, each type has its pros and cons.
Just like us, birds have unique abilities and strengths, and their wings are what make them soar. So the next time you see a bird soaring overhead, take a closer look at its wings and see what makes it so special.
Whether it's the long, slender wings of an albatross, the powerful elliptical wings of a swallow, or the tiny, quick wings of a hummingbird, each type of wing has been perfectly adapted for the bird's specific needs and habitat.
Enjoyed getting a bird's-eye view of the different types of bird wings? Share my blog with your friends so they can learn too!
I've never even considered the variety of shapes of bird wings. Thanks for the lesson. :)