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Cited by 92Biomimetic flight and propulsion mechanismsFluid dynamics and aerodynamics studiesAerospace and Aviation Technology

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 35 of the 39 references it cites were found in a registry or an index, and 1 are not checked yet.

Aerodynamics of wing-assisted incline running in birds

Tobalske, Bret W., Dial, Kenneth P.·2007·Journal of Experimental Biology
DOI 10.1242/jeb.001701
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Abstract

SUMMARY: Wing-assisted incline running (WAIR) is a form of locomotion in which a bird flaps its wings to aid its hindlimbs in climbing a slope. WAIR is used for escape in ground birds, and the ontogeny of this behavior in precocial birds has been suggested to represent a model analogous to transitional adaptive states during the evolution of powered avian flight. To begin to reveal the aerodynamics of flap-running, we used digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) and measured air velocity, vorticity, circulation and added mass in the wake of chukar partridge Alectoris chukar as they engaged in WAIR (incline 65–85°; N=7 birds) and ascending flight(85°, N=2). To estimate lift and impulse, we coupled our DPIV data with three-dimensional wing kinematics from a companion study. The ontogeny of lift production was evaluated using three age classes: baby birds incapable of flight [6–8 days post hatching (d.p.h.)] and volant juveniles (25–28 days) and adults (45+ days). All three age classes of birds, including baby birds with partially emerged, symmetrical wing feathers,generated circulation with their wings and exhibited a wake structure that consisted of discrete vortex rings shed once per downstroke. Impulse of the vortex rings during WAIR was directed 45±5° relative to horizontal and 21±4° relative to the substrate. Absolute values of circulation in vortex cores and induced velocity increased with increasing age. Normalized circulation was similar among all ages in WAIR but 67% greater in adults during flight compared with flap-running. Estimated lift during WAIR was 6.6%of body weight in babies and between 63 and 86% of body weight in juveniles and adults. During flight, average lift was 110% of body weight. Our results reveal for the first time that lift from the wings, rather than wing inertia or profile drag, is primarily responsible for accelerating the body toward the substrate during WAIR, and that partially developed wings, not yet capable of flight, can produce useful lift during WAIR. We predict that neuromuscular control or power output, rather than external wing morphology, constrain the onset of flight ability during development in birds.

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Crossref · 10.1242/jeb.001701

Cites

35 of 36 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Claims other papers make about this one

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  • A model wherein small size and increasing approximations of the flight stroke allowed some clades of terrestrial paravians to utilize wing assisted incline running to access trees or other subvertical substrates previously not accessible.

    “This suggests a model wherein small size and increasing approximations of the flight stroke allowed some clades of terrestrial paravians to utilize wing assisted incline running to access trees or other subvertical substrates previously not accessible (Tobalske & Dial, 2007; Dececchi, Larsson & Habib, 2016).”

    From A new paravian dinosaur from the Late Jurassic of North America supports a late acquisition of avian flight (2019) · cites this paper as Tobalske & Dial, 2007

  • WAIR requires a full and powerful flight stroke, with wing force estimates in chukars of up to 220% of body mass and induced velocities comparable to flight.

    “WAIR also requires a full and powerful flight stroke, with wing force estimates in chukars of up to 220% of body mass and induced velocities comparable to flight [105].”

    From Assessing Arboreal Adaptations of Bird Antecedents: Testing the Ecological Setting of the Origin of the Avian Flight Stroke (2011) · cites this paper as [105]

Citations

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3 of the 39 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Padian, K. (2001). Stages in the origin of bird flight: beyond the arboreal–cursorial dichotomy. In New Perspectives on the Origin and Early Evolution of Birds (ed. J. A. Gauthier), pp. 255-272. New Haven: Yale University Press.

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Metadata

Authors
Tobalske, B. W., & Dial, K. P.
Affiliations
  • University of Portland (US)
  • University of Montana (US)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Experimental Biology
Publisher
The Company of Biologists
Published
2007-05-15
Volume
210
Issue
10
Pages
1742-1751
ISSN
  • 0022-0949 (ISSN-L)
  • 1477-9145
DOI
10.1242/jeb.001701
OpenAlex
W2159933015
Cited by
89
References
39
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 6
FWCI
5.69
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Experimental Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Aerospace Engineering › Biomimetic flight and propulsion mechanisms
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Computational Mechanics › Fluid dynamics and aerodynamics studies
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Aerospace Engineering › Aerospace and Aviation Technology
Keywords
bird locomotion, lift generation, vortex rings, wake structure, chukar partridge, Alectoris chukar, wing development, induced velocity, vorticity, flight evolution, precocial birds
MeSH terms
Age Factors, Air Movements, Analysis of Variance, Animals, Biomechanical Phenomena, Body Weights and Measures, Rheology, Running, Wings, Animal, Galliformes

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