Hovering hummingbird wing aerodynamics during the annual cycle. II. Implications of wing feather moult.

ABSTRACT: Birds usually moult their feathers in a particular sequence which may incur aerodynamic, physiological and behavioural implications. Among birds, hummingbirds are unique species in their sustained hovering flight. Because hummingbirds frequently hover-feed, they must maintain sufficiently high flight capacities even when moulting their flight feathers. A hummingbird wing consists of 10 primary flight feathers whose absence during moult may strongly affect wing performance. Using dynamic similarity rules, we compared time-accurate aerodynamic loads and flow field measurements over several wing geometries that follow the natural feather moult sequence of Calypte anna, a common hummingbird species in western North America. Our results suggest a drop of more than 20% in lift production during

SUBMITTER: Achache Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5830773 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature