Nightjar wings reveal a trade-off between hunting slowly and traveling far

What happened

Researchers at Lund University have now shown how this trade-off is reflected in the bird's flight mechanics. The European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) is a nocturnal migratory bird that travels between Europe and southern Africa each year.

However, its wings are not only used for long-distance journeys. When hunting insects, the nightjar must be able to slow down, turn sharply and fly at low speeds. The study is published in the journal PLOS Biology.