Adaptations of birds to flight

• Hollow bones reduce weight
• has feathers  to insulate the body during flight
• a streamlined body – this helps reduce the force of drag
• wings – these enable the force of lift.
• Some of vertebral sections are fused together to provide the rigidity required for flight.
• The sternum provides a large surface area for the strong attachment of the main flight muscles.
• The size of the head has been reduced significantly when compared to other species. A large head would make flying more difficult.
• The tail has been reduced to a very short section of fused bones called the pygostyle (sometimes referred to as the Parson’s nose or the Pope’s nose).
• The ribs have been modified by the inclusion of the uncinate process which refers to overlying flaps projecting off the ribs connecting ribs to the ones beside them. This gives strength to the rib cage so that it will not collapse during flight.
• The neck is quite long in most species to enable the bird to:

» Protect the delicate tissues of the brain from too much jarring when landing; the flexibility of the neck acts as a shock absorber

» Aid in the reaching of food located on the ground; the rigid body makes this simple activity more difficult without this modification

» Aid in the adjustment of the center of gravity needed when the bird changes from the upright position of walking or perching to the more horizontal position of flight

» Allow the bird to use its beak to obtain oil from the preen gland located on its tail; the bird uses the oil to preen its feathers

The bones of birds are also lighter in weight than those of their mammalian counterparts. Some of the bones are hollow and actually act as part of the avian respiratory system. They are called pneumatic bones