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Flying in a flock comes at a cost in pigeons

Author

Listed:
  • James R. Usherwood

    (Structure and Motion Laboratory, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, North Mymms, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK)

  • Marinos Stavrou

    (Structure and Motion Laboratory, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, North Mymms, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK)

  • John C. Lowe

    (Structure and Motion Laboratory, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, North Mymms, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK)

  • Kyle Roskilly

    (Structure and Motion Laboratory, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, North Mymms, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK)

  • Alan M. Wilson

    (Structure and Motion Laboratory, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, North Mymms, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK)

Abstract

High-cost flight for flocking pigeons Close monitoring of 18 pigeons during 7 bouts of flight around their home loft, in which they clocked up more than 9 pigeon-hours and 400 pigeon-kilometres of flight, suggests that there is a high cost involved in formation flying. Pigeons in flocks flap much faster and engage in banked turns that double g-force and quadruple effort. Flying close together is, in terms of energetics, very costly. Whatever advantage flocking provides must lie elsewhere.

Suggested Citation

  • James R. Usherwood & Marinos Stavrou & John C. Lowe & Kyle Roskilly & Alan M. Wilson, 2011. "Flying in a flock comes at a cost in pigeons," Nature, Nature, vol. 474(7352), pages 494-497, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:474:y:2011:i:7352:d:10.1038_nature10164
    DOI: 10.1038/nature10164
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