Question

List a few flight adaptations in birds.

Answer 1

Hint: Flying is a combination of two sets of forces, raising and weight and thrusting and dragging.

Complete Answer:
1) Body Contour- During the flight, the birds have a spindle-shaped body to give less air resistance.

2) Compact Body- To preserve air equilibrium, a bird's body is small, dorsally solid, and ventrally heavy. Their wings are attached to the thorax, the light organs like lungs and sacs are highly located, the large muscles situated in the middle are other characteristics that aid in flight.The feathers are smooth, guided backwards and closely fitting which streamlines the body during flight and reduces friction. It lightens body weight and protects it against the influence of temperature on the environment.

3) Forelimbs Modified into Wings- The forelimbs are converted into wings which are the only flight organ. These consist of a bone, muscle, nerve, feather, and blood vessel structure. The wings have a substantial surface area. They help the airborne bird too. With a concave lower surface and a convex upper surface the wings have a thick, solid leading edge.

4) Bipedal Locomotion- The anterior part of a bird's body helps take off during flight. The body's anterior portion lets birds land too. On ground, the hindlimbs aid with the locomotion. They will bolster a bird's entire body weight.

5) Short Tail- The tail bears long feathers, which spread like a fan during flight and act as a rudder. They also help to stabilise, raise, and steer while flying and perching.

Note: Other interesting features in the birds are:
1) Mobile Neck and Head- The birds have a long and flexible neck which is important for various functions in moving the head. They possess a horny beak that helps them choose the grains and insects as they sleep.
2) Perching- When a bird sits on a tree branch, its toes are curled around the twig. This is called perching. The muscles are so well formed that a bird can sleep without dropping in that position.