A guide for Avians

Flying basics

//most of this is from me scouring the internet for some decent information//

(https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/303-how-birds-fly)

Wings

The shape of a wing is important for producing lift. The increased speed over a curved, larger wing area creates a longer path of air. This means the air is moving more quickly over the top surface of the wing, reducing air pressure on the top of the wing and creating lift. Also, the angle of the wing (tilted) deflects air downwards, causing a reaction force in the opposite direction and creating lift.

Larger wings produce greater lift than smaller wings. So those with smaller wings need to fly faster to maintain the same lift as those with larger wings.

Wing loading tells you how fast you must fly to be able to maintain lift: wing loading = weight/wing area (kilograms per square metre). (Even I don't get that.)

A smaller wing loading number means you can fly more slowly while still maintaining lift and is more manoeuvrable.

Gliding

When you are gliding, you don't have to do any work. The wings are held out to the side of the body and do not flap. As the wings move through the air, they are held at a slight angle, which deflects the air downwards and causes a reaction in the opposite direction, which is lift. But there is also drag (air resistance) on the bird's body, so every now and then, the bird has to tilt forward and go into a slight dive so that it can maintain forward speed.

Soaring

Soaring flight is a special kind of glide in which you fly in a rising air current (called a thermal). Because the air is rising, you can maintain your height relative to the ground. The albatross uses this type of soaring to support its multi-year voyages at sea.

Flapping

Your wings flap with an up-and-down motion. This propels them forward. The entire wingspan has to be at the right angle of attack, which means the wings have to twist (and do so automatically) with each downward stroke to keep aligned with the direction of travel.

Soaring and flapping

You can fly in various ways.

Your wing produces lift and thrust during the downstroke. The air is deflected downwards and also to the rear. The bird reduces its angle of attack and partially folds its wings on the upward stroke so that it passes through the air with the least possible resistance. The inner part of the wing has very little movement and can provide lift in a similar way to gliding.

Obtaining thrust

You obtain thrust by using your strong muscles and flapping your wings. You may use gravity (for example, jumping from a tree) to give you forward thrust for flight. Others may use a running take-off from the ground.

Different flight abilities

You can have have different adaptive features to meet your flight needs:

Some avians are small and can manipulate their wings to manoeuvre easily.
If you have a large wingspan, you are capable of speed and soaring.
Some are streamlined to dive at high speeds into the ocean for fish.
Others, although small, are equipped to fly long distances.

(I'll put the links in the comments in case you can't copy text on here, the way to copy it is you go to the three dots in the top right corner of the comment, press copy link, go to your web browser, paste it, go, press the link highlighted in orange.)

How bird wings work:
https://youtu.be/uxJQmtCyi3M
https://youtu.be/aFO4PBolwFg

Slow motion bird flying:
https://youtu.be/B1uY7_wdYOA
https://youtu.be/VSzpM8vEAFA

Wing spread and fold:
https://youtu.be/GFCgwglikcY

Pictures

Out of these wings, I think most of us would have Soaring. Just think, we couldn't have Rapid Takeoff, High Speed, it Hovering because those are for small birds. And gliding is very... thin, I guess.