Bird flight

Bird flight is locomotion through the air powered by wings. Birds generate lift and thrust through wing motion, while feathers and body shape help control airflow.

Flapping flight: Flight powered by repeated wing strokes that generate lift and forward thrust. Most birds use downstrokes and recovery upstrokes to sustain powered flight.
Lift (force): The aerodynamic force perpendicular to a body's motion through a fluid. Bird wings must generate enough lift to balance weight.
Bird migration: The regular seasonal movement of birds between breeding and nonbreeding areas. Powered and soaring flight let many species cover long distances between habitats.
Gliding flight: A descent through the air without powered flapping, using aerodynamic lift to reduce the rate of falling. Birds can glide between flapping bouts, trading altitude for distance.
Bird wing: A feathered forelimb shaped to generate aerodynamic forces and control flight. Its changing shape redirects airflow during each stroke.
Thrust: A force that drives an object forward through a fluid or against another body. Wing strokes supply forward force that overcomes drag.
Hovering: Remaining nearly stationary in the air by balancing aerodynamic forces. Hummingbirds use specialized wing strokes to hover while feeding.
Bat flight: Powered flight by bats using flexible, skin-covered wings supported by elongated fingers. Bats solve the same flight problem with a different wing structure.
Aerodynamics: The study of forces and air motion around moving bodies. Lift, drag, and airflow explain the forces acting on flying birds.
Drag (physics): The force opposing motion through a fluid, caused by pressure differences and friction. Birds adjust posture and wing shape to limit this resistance.

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