Bird wings

Question 1

Recent studies on flight propose that … wing surfaces reduce skin … drag, thereby improving flight … (… to … ratio)

Answer 1

hotter, friction, efficiency, lift, drag

Question 2

… wings may in turn heat up faster under … … than … wings

Answer 2

darker, solar radiation, lighter

Question 3

Used 3 methods to test impact of colour on wing … …

Answer 3

surface temperature

• reflectance
• thermal imaging in ospreys with increasing solar radiance
• heated differently coloured wings in a wind tunnel and measured wing surface temperature at realistic flight speeds

Question 4

Even under … … conditions, darker wings consistently became … than pale wings

Answer 4

simulated flight, hotter

Question 5

In white wings with … …, the temperature differential produced … currents towards the wingtips that could lead to an increase in …

Answer 5

dark tips, convective, lift

Question 6

Additionally, a temperature …. between wing-spanning … … and … flight feathers could delay the flow separation above the wing, increasing … …

Answer 6

differential, warm muscles, colder, flight efficiency

Question 7

Together, the results of this study suggest that … … and … … both play important roles in modulating wing … … and therefore potentially flight …

Answer 7

wing colouration, muscle temperature, surface temperature, efficiency