Fig. 1: Schematic of a characteristic swooping trajectory and data acquisition. | Nature

Fig. 1: Schematic of a characteristic swooping trajectory and data acquisition.

From: Optimization of avian perching manoeuvres

Fig. 1

Harris’ hawks were flown between perches in a purpose-built motion capture studio, wearing a template of retroreflective markers close to the centre of mass (inset; tail markers also shown). Swooping was initiated by a take-off jump, followed by a powered dive (yellow line). This transitioned at its lowest point (black dot) into an unpowered climb (blue line), finishing with a rapid pitch-up manoeuvre that ended with the body almost vertical and with the wings outstretched as the feet contacted the perch.

Back to article page