European nightjars have wings that prioritise nimble hunting over high-speed efficiency, and they also generate thrust on the upstroke, a technique previously seen mainly in bats and insects.
01Summary
- 01Researchers at Lund University studied European nightjars in a wind tunnel, recording movements and airflow at different speeds.
- 02The nightjar's broad wing tips aid slow-flight manoeuvrability but reduce lift efficiency at higher speeds.
- 03The bird generates thrust on the upward wingbeat, an active upstroke technique not typical of most birds.
- 04The findings challenge the assumption that long-distance migrants have wings optimised purely for efficient flight.
- 05The discovery could inspire improvements in flapping-wing drones and robotic aircraft.
02Why it matters
This matters because understanding how nature balances competing flight demands could lead to more agile and efficient drones and aircraft.
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