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Energy saving in flight formation

Nature volume 413, pages 697–698 (2001)Cite this article

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.

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

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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
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  2. Julien Martin
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  3. Yannick Clerquin
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  4. Peggy Alexandre
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  5. Sarka Jiraskova
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Henri Weimerskirch.

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

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