Subject: Re: swift speed
Date: Jun 10 10:25:27 1994
From: Dick Cannings - cannings at bcu.ubc.ca


I recently posted an item on White-throated Swift flight speeds on
rec.birds (ir retrospect, I think I should have posted it on birdchat, but
I get confused as to where I've read all this interesting stuff).
Anyways, Becky Kolotylo did a MSc here at UBC a few years ago on flight
speeds of aerial insectivores, and in a sample of 100+ White-throated
Swifts got a maximum speed of 16.5 m/s, or about 37 mph. The mean flight
speed was 10.1 m/s. The full reference is Kolotylo, R.A. 1989. Flight
speeds and energetics of seven bird species. MSc, Zoology Dept., UBC.

I agree with Dennis--these birds sure look and sound like they're going a
lot faster than that!

--Dick Cannnings

Richard J. Cannings cannings at bcu.ubc.ca
Cowan Vertebrate Museum vertmus at bcu.ubc.ca
Department of Zoology, (604)822-4665
University of British Columbia (604)822-2416 (FAX)
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 CANADA