Age and sex differences in wing loading and other aerodynamic characteristics of Merlins. (Short Communications).: An article from: Wilson Bulletin
Book Details
PublisherWilson Ornithological Society
ISBN / ASINB0008FW92Y
ISBN-13978B0008FW923
AvailabilityAvailable for download now
MarketplaceUnited States 🇺🇸
Description
This digital document is an article from Wilson Bulletin, published by Wilson Ornithological Society on June 1, 2002. The length of the article is 2356 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
From the author: We examined age and sex differences in wing loading, aspect ratio, and wing span in a sample of 208 Merlins (Falco columbarius) captured at Cedar Grove, Wisconsin, during fall migration, 1978-1993. We also examined differences in tail loading of 166 of these Merlins. Adult males had significantly greater mass and wing loading than juvenile males. Adult females differed significantly from juvenile females only in mass. Females were significantly greater than males in every measure except aspect ratio. There were no apparent age differences in tail area or flight surface loading, but females had greater values in both. Merlins show fewer age differences in aerodynamic characteristics than Sharp-shinned Hawks (Accipiter striatus), probably because of differences in how the two species pursue and capture avian prey. Merlins usually capture prey in the air, sometimes after multiple stoops and at high flight speeds. In contrast, Sharp-shinned Hawks take birds from their perch or after a brief chase, often in dense vegetation, at relatively low flight speeds. Slower flight speeds require larger control surfaces and can explain the increased age differences in wing and tall areas in Sharp-shinned Hawks.
Citation Details
Title: Age and sex differences in wing loading and other aerodynamic characteristics of Merlins. (Short Communications).
Author: Helmut C. Mueller
Publication:Wilson Bulletin (Refereed)
Date: June 1, 2002
Publisher: Wilson Ornithological Society
Volume: 114 Issue: 2 Page: 272(4)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
From the author: We examined age and sex differences in wing loading, aspect ratio, and wing span in a sample of 208 Merlins (Falco columbarius) captured at Cedar Grove, Wisconsin, during fall migration, 1978-1993. We also examined differences in tail loading of 166 of these Merlins. Adult males had significantly greater mass and wing loading than juvenile males. Adult females differed significantly from juvenile females only in mass. Females were significantly greater than males in every measure except aspect ratio. There were no apparent age differences in tail area or flight surface loading, but females had greater values in both. Merlins show fewer age differences in aerodynamic characteristics than Sharp-shinned Hawks (Accipiter striatus), probably because of differences in how the two species pursue and capture avian prey. Merlins usually capture prey in the air, sometimes after multiple stoops and at high flight speeds. In contrast, Sharp-shinned Hawks take birds from their perch or after a brief chase, often in dense vegetation, at relatively low flight speeds. Slower flight speeds require larger control surfaces and can explain the increased age differences in wing and tall areas in Sharp-shinned Hawks.
Citation Details
Title: Age and sex differences in wing loading and other aerodynamic characteristics of Merlins. (Short Communications).
Author: Helmut C. Mueller
Publication:Wilson Bulletin (Refereed)
Date: June 1, 2002
Publisher: Wilson Ornithological Society
Volume: 114 Issue: 2 Page: 272(4)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
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