A comparison of flight energetics in hirundines and other birds

Energy expenditure and wing beat frequency in relation to body mass in free flying Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica)

“…All five were taken during the breeding season and calculated flight costs via time-budgets or mass-loss: according to Hails' (1979) calculations, a barn swallow of 18.5 g would fly at 1.27 W, Lyuleeva's (1970) measurements would result in 1.39 W, and Turner's would range from 1.57 (Turner 1982a(Turner , b) to 1.90 W (1983. Based on Westerterp and Bryant's measurements (1984) we would expect flight costs of 1.51 W in a bird of 18.5 g. The average e fS of 2.13 W observed in our study thus is about 10-70% higher than the flight costs of Barn Swallows estimated in the field.…”

Long flights and age affect oxidative status of homing pigeons(Columba livia)

“…Metabolic rate during flight may actually increase by as much as 12 times the resting values (Raveling and Lefebvre, 1967;Rayner, 1982;McWilliams et al, 2004;Videler, 2006). It is also known that metabolic demands may change from one species to another (Hails, 1979).…”

Negative Relationship between Relative Tarsus and Wing Lengths in Malagasy Rain Forest Birds

“…Dicrurus forficatus). In that case, longer wing reduces flight cost (Pennycuick 1975, Hails 1979 and also aids in hovering (Norberg 1979, Wiens 1989. On the other hand, as in the case of Madagascar Blue Pigeon Alectroenas madagascariensis which picks fruits from trees, relatively longer wing may be used to obtain a maximum lift in flapping flight (Rayner 1981).…”