Observations made using high-speed cameras have shed light on how hummingbirds make their way through small gaps while flying, a process that is too fast to be discerned by the naked eye. This discovery holds potential for the development of new techniques for the flight of robots.
Hummingbirds, known for feeding on nectar, often need to navigate through cramped foliage as they move between flowers. Inspired by watching hummingbirds from his window, Marc Badger at the University of California, Berkeley decided to delve into the mechanics of how they accomplish this feat.
Badger and his team constructed an enclosure with a portal between two compartments to study the behavior of four Anna’s hummingbirds (Calypte anna). They used high-speed cameras to capture the birds as they passed through, revealing that the birds utilized two strategies to negotiate the tiny gap. One method involved a slow approach with a sideways passage, while the other, more daring strategy entailed a rapid approach, wings folded, followed by a swift passage through the gap, resembling a spear before reopening their wings.
As observed, familiarization with the set-up and gained confidence prompted the birds to switch from the slower to the speedier approach. Notably, the smallest aperture compelled the birds to use the bolder technique immediately, indicating that every bird had to fly straight through, even on their first attempt. This shift in strategy was postulated by Badger to be a result of the potential risk of injury associated with flapping at high speed while moving sideways, as compared to the reduced danger when zipping through with their wings tucked in.
According to Christopher J. Clark at the University of California, Riverside, hummingbird wings differ from those of most birds, and the study offers insights into the evolution of their flight habits. He remarked that the maneuvers these birds employ to navigate through tight spaces set them apart in their own category due to their unique and extraordinary flight capabilities.
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