The post The Wrist Trick That Keeps Molting Hawks Airborne appeared first on A-Z Animals. Molting—the natural loss and replacement of feathers—is an essential process for birds, but it often leaves ...

Red-tailed hawks can compensate for feather loss during molt by subtly changing their wing and tail movements, according to a new study by University of California, Davis, researchers in the College ...

The hawk also adjusted its wing motion, bringing its wings closer together during part of each wingbeat, potentially helping reduce gaps caused by missing feathers. Overall, the hawk maintained flight ...

This animation shows the flight patterns of a hawk in flight at UC Davis. Credit must be given to the creator. Only noncommercial uses of the work are permitted. Adaptations must be shared under the ...

A hawk is filmed at UC Davis, where researchers tracked its wing and tail movements. Credit must be given to the creator. Only noncommercial uses of the work are permitted. Adaptations must be shared ...

Molting—the natural loss and replacement of feathers—is an essential process for birds, but it often leaves gaps in their wings and tails. Since these feathers are crucial for flight capability and ...