Bird data sheet 1 - wings
Birds’ wings are all different. The shape, the size and the
arrangement of feathers all vary from bird to bird. A bird’s
wings are adapted to suit the kind of flying the bird mostly
needs to do.
Which wing do you think would be best for each of these
types of flight?
Why do you think this? You should use the features of the
wing to justify your explanation
Type of flight
High-Speed
Rapid Takeoff
Gliding
Hovering
Soaring
Bird data sheet 1 – wings answers
Soaring
Gliding
Rapid Takeoff
High-Speed
Hovering
For videos to illustrate wing shapes and types of flight, see
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/physics/lessons/elementary/flight
Bird data sheet 2 – observing feathers
More info - http://harunyahya.com/en/Books/970/the-design-innature/chapter/3199
Bird data sheet 3 – more about wings and feathers
1. Supporting Bars
2. Cavities
3. Hollow Bone
4. Longitudinal Cross Section of a Bone
5. Supporting Bars
6. Wing of an Aeroplane
7. Cavities
8. Wing Feathers
9. The bases of the feathers are attached to the long wing bones.
10. The feathers at the tips of the wings are raised when speed is reduced. Air
passes over the feathers and bird regains the force to avoid falling.
11. The body of a bird is covered with feathers. Wing feathers open and close as
the bird flaps its wings.
Bird bones are extremely light but sturdy, largely because they are hollow. There
is air inside the cavities where supporting bars stiffen the bones. These hollow
bones are the main inspirations for the design of modern aeroplane wings.
Bird data sheet 5 – beaks
BIRD
BEAK
American Woodcock
Long, thin, probing beak
(lives in woods)
Hudsonian Godwit
Long, thin, probing beak
(water bird)
Downy Woodpecker
Medium, strong, sharp for
chiseling in wood
Peregrin Falcon
Sharp, strong beak for
tearing
Crested Caracara
Sharp, strong beak for
tearing
American White Pelican
Large, scooped for
catching fish
Roseate Spoonbill
Flat, large area for straining
food
American Goldfinch
Short, strong for cracking
open seeds
Anna’s Hummingbird
Long and very thin for
sipping nectar