Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Energy saving in flight formation

  • Brief Communication
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Pelicans flying in a 'V' can glide for extended periods using the other birds' air streams.

Abstract

Many species of large bird fly together in formation, perhaps because flight power demands and energy expenditure can be reduced when the birds fly at an optimal spacing1,2,3, or because orientation is improved by communication within groups4. We have measured heart rates as an estimate of energy expenditure in imprinted great white pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus) trained to fly in 'V' formation, and show that these birds save a significant amount of energy by flying in formation. This advantage is probably a principal reason for the evolution of flight formation in large birds that migrate in groups.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2: Wing-beat frequency and heart rate of pelicans engaged in various types of flight (mean ± 1 s.d.).

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lissaman, P. B. S. & Shollenberg, C. A. Science 168, 1003–1005 (1970).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Badgerow, J. P. & Hainsworth, F. R. J. Theor. Biol. 93, 41–52 (1981).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Hummel, D. J. Theor. Biol. 104, 321–347 (1983).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Hamilton, W. J. in Animal Orientation and Navigation (ed. Storm, R. M.) 57–71 (Oregon State Univ. Press, Corvallis, 1967).

  5. Weimerskirch, H. et al. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 267, 1869–1874 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hainsworth, F. R. J. Exp. Biol. 135, 431–444 (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Badgerow, J. P. Auk 105, 749–755 (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Cutts, C. J. & Speakman, J. R. J. Exp. Biol. 189, 251–261 (1999).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Higdon, J. J. L. & Corrsin, S. Am. Nat. 112, 727–744 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. O'Malley, J. B. E. & Evans, R. M. Can. J. Zool. 60, 1388–1396 (1982).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Gould, L. L. & Heppner, F. Auk 91, 494–506 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Villiers en Bois, 79360, France

    Henri Weimerskirch & Julien Martin

  2. Galatée Films, Le Peuple Migrateur — Jacques Perrin, 92 Rue Jouffroy d'Abbans, Paris, 75017, France

    Yannick Clerquin, Peggy Alexandre & Sarka Jiraskova

Authors
  1. Henri Weimerskirch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Julien Martin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yannick Clerquin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Peggy Alexandre
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sarka Jiraskova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Henri Weimerskirch.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Weimerskirch, H., Martin, J., Clerquin, Y. et al. Energy saving in flight formation. Nature 413, 697–698 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35099670

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/35099670

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation