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Scientists have at last discovered the specific techniques that hummingbirds employ to navigate through narrow spaces, despite their physical limitations in retracting their wings.
Smaller birds that primarily eat fruit, seeds, and nectar are able to maneuver through small openings in foliage by tucking in their wings and bringing them closer to their bodies while flying.
Despite their agility and ability to fly backwards, hummingbirds no longer possess the capability to fold their wings at the wrists and elbows.
For years, researchers have been fascinated by how small birds are able to squeeze through narrow gaps that are only half the width of their wingspan.
Marc Badger, a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), stated that hummingbirds may struggle to enter gaps that are less than the width of one of their wings, unless they use specific techniques.
Scientists recently published a study in the Journal of Experimental Biology on Thursday. The study focused on Anna’s hummingbirds (Calypte anna) and their behavior in a specially designed flight arena. The birds were encouraged to fly through a small gap as part of the study.
wide window in the middle of the arena”
“We constructed a flight arena with two sides and pondered techniques for teaching birds to navigate through a window measuring 16 cm wide, situated in the center of the arena.”2
Dr. Badger clarified that there is a gap in the partition that divides the two sides.
The team only refilled a flower-shaped feeder with a sip of sugar solution once the bird had returned to the feeder opposite to encourage them to fly to and fro.
Researchers used high-speed cameras to capture footage of birds navigating through a gap. The gap was modified with a variety of smaller oval and circular openings, measuring 12 to 6 cm in height, width, and diameter.
Researchers developed a computer program to systematically monitor the movement of each bird’s beak as they entered and exited each opening.
The researchers discovered that the avian creatures employed two distinct approaches.
Initially, the birds would frequently pause in front of the opening to evaluate it before maneuvering through it horizontally.
They would extend one wing forward while pulling the other wing back, creating a shape resembling a cross.
Scientists say that the birds are able to skillfully perform this action while simultaneously flapping their wings to pass through the opening and then pivot forward to continue their journey.
In a different method, the birds folded their wings against their bodies and propelled themselves forward with their beaks, resembling a flying bullet.
After passing through the gap, they would flap their wings again in a forward motion.
Panels A and B show the side-on and underneath view of a hummingbird passing through an aperture sideways. C and D show the same views of the hummingbird passing through an aperture like a bullet with its wings swept back.
Scientists discovered that birds flying sideways were more careful compared to those that flew straight through openings like a bullet.
However, as the birds continued to encounter the openings during multiple flybys, even the more cautious flyers started using the bullet-like approach.
Yet, when faced with the narrowest opening, only half the width of their wingspan, most birds opted to enter head first.
The results indicate that hummingbirds employ the sideways method when they want to be more careful, and switch to a beak-first approach as they become more daring.
Source: independent.co.uk
