Wake analysis of drag components in gliding flight of a jackdaw (Corvus monedula) during moult
(2017) In Interface Focus 7(1).- Abstract
To maintain the quality of the feathers, birds regularly undergo moult. It is widely accepted that moult affects flight performance, but the specific aerodynamic consequences have received relatively little attention. Here we measured the components of aerodynamic drag from the wake behind a gliding jackdaw (Corvus monedula) at different stages of its natural wing moult. We found that span efficiency was reduced (lift induced drag increased) and the wing profile drag coefficient was increased. Both effects best correlated with the corresponding reduction in spanwise camber. The negative effects are partially mitigated by adjustments of wing posture to minimize gaps in the wing, and by weight loss to reduce wing loading. By studying the... (More)
To maintain the quality of the feathers, birds regularly undergo moult. It is widely accepted that moult affects flight performance, but the specific aerodynamic consequences have received relatively little attention. Here we measured the components of aerodynamic drag from the wake behind a gliding jackdaw (Corvus monedula) at different stages of its natural wing moult. We found that span efficiency was reduced (lift induced drag increased) and the wing profile drag coefficient was increased. Both effects best correlated with the corresponding reduction in spanwise camber. The negative effects are partially mitigated by adjustments of wing posture to minimize gaps in the wing, and by weight loss to reduce wing loading. By studying the aerodynamic consequences of moult, we can refine our understanding of the emergence of various moulting strategies found among birds.
(Less)
- author
- KleinHeerenbrink, Marco LU and Hedenström, Anders LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2017-02-06
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Aerodynamic efficiency, Animal flight, Gliding, Moult, Wind tunnel
- in
- Interface Focus
- volume
- 7
- issue
- 1
- article number
- 20160081
- publisher
- Royal Society Publishing
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:28163873
- wos:000391694100006
- scopus:85007079704
- ISSN
- 2042-8898
- DOI
- 10.1098/rsfs.2016.0081
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 5099d1ec-8faf-41a5-a192-e347be1e5cd3
- date added to LUP
- 2017-01-27 14:15:59
- date last changed
- 2024-06-14 23:06:55
@article{5099d1ec-8faf-41a5-a192-e347be1e5cd3,
abstract = {{<p>To maintain the quality of the feathers, birds regularly undergo moult. It is widely accepted that moult affects flight performance, but the specific aerodynamic consequences have received relatively little attention. Here we measured the components of aerodynamic drag from the wake behind a gliding jackdaw (Corvus monedula) at different stages of its natural wing moult. We found that span efficiency was reduced (lift induced drag increased) and the wing profile drag coefficient was increased. Both effects best correlated with the corresponding reduction in spanwise camber. The negative effects are partially mitigated by adjustments of wing posture to minimize gaps in the wing, and by weight loss to reduce wing loading. By studying the aerodynamic consequences of moult, we can refine our understanding of the emergence of various moulting strategies found among birds.</p>}},
author = {{KleinHeerenbrink, Marco and Hedenström, Anders}},
issn = {{2042-8898}},
keywords = {{Aerodynamic efficiency; Animal flight; Gliding; Moult; Wind tunnel}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{02}},
number = {{1}},
publisher = {{Royal Society Publishing}},
series = {{Interface Focus}},
title = {{Wake analysis of drag components in gliding flight of a jackdaw (Corvus monedula) during moult}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsfs.2016.0081}},
doi = {{10.1098/rsfs.2016.0081}},
volume = {{7}},
year = {{2017}},
}