The turning- and linear-maneuvering performance of birds: the cost of efficiency for coursing insectivores

Abstract

To examine the performance compromises necessitated by adaptations for high efficiency in flight, such as highaspect ratio wings, the flight morphology and acceleration performance of a guild of coursing aerial insectivores (swifts andswallows) were compared with those of a guild of avian generalists. Though phylogenetic non-independence made inference ofadaptation difficult, biologically significant differences in aspect ratio and acceleration performance probably exist between thetwo groups of birds. A model of aerial insectivory is presented to illustrate the performance demands of this foraging methodand the impacts of the compromises between high efficiency in sustained flight and turning- and linear-maneuveringperformance.