J Exp Biol September 2007 PMID 17766290

Biomechanics of bird flight.

Bret W Tobalske

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Mentions

27
Peak: 6 in Jan 2023
across 5 sources since Feb 2020

Extended reach

426,418
potential audience

Total likes

141

Video views

461

Mentions per month

Feb 2020 – Oct 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter19 posts
  • News3 articles
  • Bluesky2 posts
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Reddit1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The group mostly shows moderate interest, exemplified by posts discussing how bird flight biomechanics inspire aircraft technology and sharing articles about specific researchers like David Lentink. The tone ranges from informational to casual, with some expressing curiosity about the science behind bird flight, but few comments critically analyze the research, indicating a generally moderate engagement and limited perceived impact.

AgreementNeither agree nor disagree

The discussions show mixed reactions, with some posts recognizing the importance of biomechanics research, while others express skepticism or indifference.

InterestModerate interest

Most posts display moderate interest, especially those mentioning applications in technology or sharing related articles, but some show limited engagement with the technical details.

EngagementModerate engagement

Several discussions reference specific scientists, research projects, or applications, which indicates a moderate level of engagement, though not deeply technical or critical.

ImpactNeutral impact

The overall impact appears to be minimal, primarily awareness-raising or educational sharing rather than inducing significant change or debate.

Abstract in brief

  • Bird flight biomechanics are primarily driven by power output from key flight muscles like the pectoralis and supracoracoideus, which generate high stress and strain for effective movement.
  • Power output varies with flight speed, influenced by bird morphology and flight style, and new measurement techniques will improve modeling and understanding of flight behavior and ecology.
  • Maneuvering, stability, and energy costs involve complex interactions of wing and tail movements, with recent research highlighting the importance of force asymmetry during maneuvers and the potential benefits of intermittent flight patterns.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Sabrina Imbler
@sabs.bsky.social · Bluesky

I understand science must get its funding somewhere. and yet. the aims of this research are rooted in unfathomable violence.

Nov 26, 2024 · 48 likes · 10 shares View post →
Quanta Magazine
@QuantaMagazine · X

@JenLucPiquant @arstechnica Like paper airplanes, birds need to remain stable in flight, and they manage their distribution of weight to do it. In August @yasemin_sap wrote for Quanta about the biomechanics of bird flight. https://t.co/rLkNDgrHq3

Jan 9, 2023 · 40 likes · 7 shares · 355,346 followers View post →
Dr Madeleine Inglis
@MaddieInglis · X

Thank you to the organisers of the virtual #WRDTP20 symposium this year! The format has been really user friendly! Make sure to check out my poster on the biomechanics of bird flight and feel free to ask me about my pigeons! https://t.co/TOkcKZYKrc

Dec 15, 2020 · 14 likes · 2 shares · 78 followers View post →
adef
@adefgames · X

does anyone, by chance, happen to know an ornithologist with a great deal of knowledge on the biomechanics of bird flight, by chance? i would love to speak with them for an upcoming video!

Sep 16, 2023 · 7 likes · 2 shares · 5,088 followers View post →
Beaty Biodiversity Museum
@beatymuseum · X

In our newly released Researchers Revealed video, @ZoologyUBC postdoc Vikram Baliga @labrichthys describes his research on the #evolution and #biomechanics of bird flight by looking at the variations between bird species. Watch here: https://t.co/AEQc3DDVfj #UBCscience #zoology

Feb 27, 2020 · 7 likes · 3 shares · 4,187 followers View post →
Rene Fransen
@Fransen_R · X

Dit stuk schreef ik voor @univgroningen (also in English: My article on David Lentink, an aerospace engineer and biologist, who studies birds in order to find new ways to fly, and also to better understand the biomechanics of bird flight.) https://t.co/ShVYI2O7TR

Jun 28, 2021 · 1 like · 648 followers View post →

All mentions

Gary Ritchison
@GaryRitchison · X

Characteristics and Biomechanics of Bird Flight Out of and Over Water https://t.co/b4bDWXxIBA

Oct 12, 2025 · 321 followers View post →
Sabrina Imbler
@sabs.bsky.social · Bluesky

I understand science must get its funding somewhere. and yet. the aims of this research are rooted in unfathomable violence.

Nov 26, 2024 · 48 likes · 10 shares View post →
Kevin Jones
@kevinrj · X

RT @adefgames: does anyone, by chance, happen to know an ornithologist with a great deal of knowledge on the biomechanics of bird flight, b…

Sep 16, 2023 · 2 shares · 1,930 followers View post →
Ricky Mondello
@rmondello · X

RT @adefgames: does anyone, by chance, happen to know an ornithologist with a great deal of knowledge on the biomechanics of bird flight, b…

Sep 16, 2023 · 2 shares · 22,200 followers View post →
adef
@adefgames · X

does anyone, by chance, happen to know an ornithologist with a great deal of knowledge on the biomechanics of bird flight, by chance? i would love to speak with them for an upcoming video!

Sep 16, 2023 · 7 likes · 2 shares · 5,088 followers View post →
Oxford Biology
@OxfordBiology · X

The biomechanics of bird flight has and continues to inspire modern technologies like aircraft and drones. Graham Taylor discusses with @ERC_Research some of the work going on in the flight lab and its applications

Apr 25, 2023 · 10,139 followers View post →
NP AGARWAL世界一フォローを目指しますAiming best in world.
@np_grwl · X

RT @QuantaMagazine: @JenLucPiquant @arstechnica Like paper airplanes, birds need to remain stable in flight, and they manage their distribu…

Jan 15, 2023 · 7 shares · 1,785 followers View post →
Naqib
@sigilmaker · X

RT @QuantaMagazine: @JenLucPiquant @arstechnica Like paper airplanes, birds need to remain stable in flight, and they manage their distribu…

Jan 9, 2023 · 7 shares · 132 followers View post →
SIAM Activity Group on Dynamical Systems
@DynamicsSIAM · X

RT @QuantaMagazine: @JenLucPiquant @arstechnica Like paper airplanes, birds need to remain stable in flight, and they manage their distribu…

Jan 9, 2023 · 7 shares · 11,046 followers View post →
Kumaran - D I O Ξ Y Ξ
@dioeye · X

RT @QuantaMagazine: @JenLucPiquant @arstechnica Like paper airplanes, birds need to remain stable in flight, and they manage their distribu…

Jan 9, 2023 · 7 shares · 827 followers View post →
Tetsuya J. Kobayashi, Qbio@IIS UTokyo
@QbioTetsuya · X

RT @QuantaMagazine: @JenLucPiquant @arstechnica Like paper airplanes, birds need to remain stable in flight, and they manage their distribu…

Jan 9, 2023 · 7 shares · 1,534 followers View post →
Quanta Magazine
@QuantaMagazine · X

@JenLucPiquant @arstechnica Like paper airplanes, birds need to remain stable in flight, and they manage their distribution of weight to do it. In August @yasemin_sap wrote for Quanta about the biomechanics of bird flight. https://t.co/rLkNDgrHq3

Jan 9, 2023 · 40 likes · 7 shares · 355,346 followers View post →
Rene Fransen
@Fransen_R · X

Dit stuk schreef ik voor @univgroningen (also in English: My article on David Lentink, an aerospace engineer and biologist, who studies birds in order to find new ways to fly, and also to better understand the biomechanics of bird flight.) https://t.co/ShVYI2O7TR

Jun 28, 2021 · 1 like · 648 followers View post →
Rene Fransen
@renef.bsky.social · Bluesky

Dit stuk schreef ik voor @univgroningen (also in English: My article on David Lentink, an aerospace engineer and biologist, who studies birds in order to find new ways to fly, and also to better understand the biomechanics of bird flight. x.com/univgroningen/…

Jun 28, 2021 View post →
Giselle Inglis
@InglisGiselle · X

RT @MaddieInglis: Thank you to the organisers of the virtual #WRDTP20 symposium this year! The format has been really user friendly! Make…

Dec 15, 2020 · 2 shares · 13 followers View post →
Steve Portugal
@sjportugal1979 · X

RT @MaddieInglis: Thank you to the organisers of the virtual #WRDTP20 symposium this year! The format has been really user friendly! Make…

Dec 15, 2020 · 2 shares · 4,659 followers View post →
Dr Madeleine Inglis
@MaddieInglis · X

Thank you to the organisers of the virtual #WRDTP20 symposium this year! The format has been really user friendly! Make sure to check out my poster on the biomechanics of bird flight and feel free to ask me about my pigeons! https://t.co/TOkcKZYKrc

Dec 15, 2020 · 14 likes · 2 shares · 78 followers View post →
Nicole Balsdon
@nlittlemore · X

RT @beatymuseum: In our newly released Researchers Revealed video, @ZoologyUBC postdoc Vikram Baliga @labrichthys describes his research on…

Feb 27, 2020 · 3 shares · 152 followers View post →
UBC Zoology
@ZoologyUBC · X

RT @beatymuseum: In our newly released Researchers Revealed video, @ZoologyUBC postdoc Vikram Baliga @labrichthys describes his research on…

Feb 27, 2020 · 3 shares · 2,008 followers View post →
Joey Bernhardt
@JoeyBernhardt · X

RT @beatymuseum: In our newly released Researchers Revealed video, @ZoologyUBC postdoc Vikram Baliga @labrichthys describes his research on…

Feb 27, 2020 · 3 shares · 3,673 followers View post →
Beaty Biodiversity Museum
@beatymuseum · X

In our newly released Researchers Revealed video, @ZoologyUBC postdoc Vikram Baliga @labrichthys describes his research on the #evolution and #biomechanics of bird flight by looking at the variations between bird species. Watch here: https://t.co/AEQc3DDVfj #UBCscience #zoology

Feb 27, 2020 · 7 likes · 3 shares · 4,187 followers View post →
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