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Aerodynamics of the hovering hummingbird

Author

Listed:
  • Douglas R. Warrick

    (Oregon State University)

  • Bret W. Tobalske

    (University of Portland)

  • Donald R. Powers

    (George Fox University)

Abstract

Strictly for the birds Since the first high-speed films were taken of hummingbirds nearly seventy years ago, it has been assumed that their mirror-image upstroke and downstroke shared the burden of weight support roughly equally. This led to the view that in hovering flight hummingbirds have converged — both biomechanically, and aerodynamically — on the flight style adopted by insects. A new study of the aerodynamics of the hovering hummingbird shows that while they share some aerodynamic ‘tricks’ with insects, they remain birds. They have a bird-like aerofoil and produce a downstroke three times as effective at generating lift as the upstroke.

Suggested Citation

  • Douglas R. Warrick & Bret W. Tobalske & Donald R. Powers, 2005. "Aerodynamics of the hovering hummingbird," Nature, Nature, vol. 435(7045), pages 1094-1097, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:435:y:2005:i:7045:d:10.1038_nature03647
    DOI: 10.1038/nature03647
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    Cited by:

    1. Qian Li & Ting Tan & Benlong Wang & Zhimiao Yan, 2024. "Avian-inspired embodied perception in biohybrid flapping-wing robotics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.

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