The European nightjar is a nocturnal bird that migrates between Europe and southern Africa every year. Its wings serve two very different purposes. On the one hand, they allow the bird to cover huge distances during migration. On the other hand, they help the bird hunt insects at night. When hunting, the nightjar needs to slow down, make sharp turns, and fly at low speeds. This creates a challenge for the bird's wing design.
A long wing is efficient for long-distance flight but makes quick turning more difficult. A shorter wing gives better control at low speeds but is less efficient for traveling. Scientists at Lund University wanted to understand how the nightjar balances these two needs. They studied the bird's flight mechanics in detail. Their findings show that the nightjar's wings are shaped in a way that reflects a clear trade-off. The bird can perform well in both situations, but not without some compromise.
The research was carried out by a team at Lund University and published in the journal PLOS Biology. The results help explain how migratory birds manage competing demands on their bodies. Understanding this trade-off also gives scientists a deeper insight into the evolution of flight. It may even inspire future designs for drones and other flying machines. The study is an important step in understanding the relationship between wing shape and behavior.
Sources: phys.org
The words in bold are from the article.
| 1. nocturnal | a. effective |
| 2. migrates | b. night-living |
| 3. purposes | c. uses |
| 4. efficient | d. development |
| 5. control | e. travels |
| 6. findings | f. difficulty |
| 7. published | g. results |
| 8. insight | h. released |
| 9. evolution | i. understanding |
| 10. challenge | j. command |
1.b 2.e 3.c 4.a 5.j 6.g 7.h 8.i 9.d 10.f