Seabird morphology determines operational wind speeds, tolerable maxima, and responses to extremes.

ABSTRACT: Storms can cause widespread seabird stranding and wrecking,^1,2,3,4,5 yet little is known about the maximum wind speeds that birds are able to tolerate or the conditions they avoid. We analyzed >300,000 h of tracking data from 18 seabird species, including flapping and soaring fliers, to assess how flight morphology affects wind selectivity, both at fine scales (hourly movement steps) and across the breeding season. We found no general preference or avoidance of particular wind speeds within foraging tracks. This suggests seabird flight morphology is adapted to a "wind niche," with higher wing loading being selected in windier environments. In support of this, wing loading was positively relat

SUBMITTER: Nourani E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10789609 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature