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Coppersmith Barbet flies sideways on a windy day?

on 21st November 2018
Video grab.

The video clip by Lakshmi Ravishankar of a Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala) flying sideways on a windy day begs the question on how it does it? Or was the bird being swept sideways?

When birds fly against the wind, they can be blown backwards if the wind speed exceeds their forward flight speed. If the birds are small and the wind is extra strong, the birds can easily be blown off course.

Hummingbirds are unique as they have the ability to fly in all directions – left, right, up, down, forward and backwards LINK but other species of birds?

Lakshmi Ravishankar
Pune, India
13th September 2016

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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