Turning on a dime: Asymmetric vortex formation in hummingbird maneuvering flight

Photonic Crystals: Turning data on a dime

Hummingbird flight

Hummingbirds are very distinctive in their form and behavior, the evolution of which is tightly connected to the evolution of their primary source of energy - floral nectar. About forty million years ago, the practical use of this dense fuel, available only in widely-dispersed, insect-sized aliquots - it was originally intended for insect pollinators - presented a severe test to the avian baupl...

The Aerodynamics of Hummingbird Flight

Mitochondrial respiration in hummingbird flight muscles.

Respiration rates of muscle mitochondria in flying hummingbirds range from 7 to 10 ml of O2 per cm3 of mitochondria per min, which is about 2 times higher than the range obtained in the locomotory muscles of mammals running at their maximum aerobic capacities (VO2max). Capillary volume density is higher in hummingbird flight muscles than in mammalian skeletal muscles. Mitochondria occupy approx...

Three-dimensional kinematics of hummingbird flight.

Hummingbirds are specialized for hovering flight, and substantial research has explored this behavior. Forward flight is also important to hummingbirds, but the manner in which they perform forward flight is not well documented. Previous research suggests that hummingbirds increase flight velocity by simultaneously tilting their body angle and stroke-plane angle of the wings, without varying wi...