Overview Draft

Animal locomotion requires mechanical power exerted by the muscles, and chemical energy in the form of ATP. In the case of a flying bird, wing shape and flight style can influence its power curve, which represents the relation between mechanical power and forward velocity. The aspect ratio of a wing is determined by its width and length. Short and broad wings such as those of a magpie, provide great maneuverability for navigating in dense environments like a forest. Meanwhile, long and narrow wings have a higher aspect ratio and are useful for speed and soaring like the wings of albatrosses, which spend most of the time soaring over the ocean in search of fish.