Black-footed Albatross Wing, Articulated

SC-332-67-A $150.00

The wings of an albatross follow the classic vertebrate plan for the upper limb with some modifications for flight, such as modified joints for folding and locking of wings, fused wrist bones and a reduction of digits.

Avian skeletons include several unique features that enable flight. It is lightweight, often weighing less than the bird’s feathers. Certain bones, called pneumatic bones, are composed of air-sacs supported by cross-struts, which reduces the bone’s weight while maintaining its structural rigidity.

There are four basic bird wing shapes, each suited to specific environments and type of flight: Passive Soaring Wings for passively using thermal updrafts over land to soar, glide and circle; Active Soaring Wings for actively seeking air currents over oceans to travel long distances, Elliptical Wings for predator evasion, fast take offs, and short bursts of speed with high maneuverability, and High Speed Wings for prolonged high speed travel. There is one additional specialized shape, for hovering.

The Black-footed Albatross is an expert glider, capable of riding oceanic air currents for hours and over great distances using two main techniques. Its wing is a classic example of the Active (sometimes referred to as Dynamic) Soaring Wing shape: long and narrow (slender). Albatrosses repeatedly fly into wind to gain elevation, and descend downwind back to sea to gain speed. A second technique, known as Slope Soaring, uses the rising air on the windward side of large waves. A tendon in an albatross's upper wing acts as a "locking mechanism" which maintains horizontal wing orientation without much energy expenditure. Other birds with this wing shape include gulls and gannets.

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