Birds that follow companions in V formation can use only 70% of the normal wingspan and reduce the power needed to fly by about 11%.
The well-known V shape formed by flocks during long migrations functions as a system of collective air utilization. A new study from Brown University indicates that the birds positioned behind and slightly to the side of the leader can decrease the wingspan, reducing the mechanical power required to continue flying by approximately 11%.
Published on July 21, 2026, in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the work was conducted by Olivia Pomerenk and Kenny Breuer. The team used information about the northern bald ibis to develop a model capable of showing, moment by moment, how the aerodynamic wake of one animal modifies the effort made by the following one.
Birds reduce wing movement within the wake
The main change did not occur in the ability to sustain the body in the air, but in the force needed to move forward. By occupying a favorable position within the current created by the companion in front, the second animal came to rely on less extensive movements.
-
Lenovo emerges with a mini PC of just 0.8 liters equipped with a 6-core AMD Ryzen 5, 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB SSD, expansion for two SSDs, and features that surprise with its compact size.
-
Two stars from the same system may have exploded as supernovae at different times and left remnants “side by side,” according to a study published in Nature.
-
Scientists discover a new eyeless fish with unusual anatomy in a cave in Alabama, United States, after four decades of searching and named the species in reference to Stranger Things.
-
A piece smaller than the palm of a hand eliminated 19 welds in the airplane engine, combined 20 components into a single block, and began to be manufactured 600 times a week using 3D printing.
In the simulations, the wingspan used by the ibis following behind corresponded to approximately 70% of that needed in a solo flight. The reduction of more intense wing beats decreased muscle work and, consequently, the energy used in the movement.
This result helps explain why flocks can cover great distances while maintaining a collective organization. The position of each member allows part of the effort made at the front to be utilized by those following the formation.
Vortices create a favorable path for birds
When a wing passes through the air, its tips generate circular movements known as vortices. These whirlwinds produce regions where the flow rises and others where it moves downward.
The following bird seeks to remain on the side of the companion, where it finds a more favorable upward current. The position does not eliminate the need to flap wings, but it modifies the forces acting on the body during each cycle.
The V formation arises precisely because the birds do not follow directly behind one another. They occupy points shifted to the sides, taking advantage of specific parts of the wake without staying in the less efficient area created immediately behind the preceding animal.
Model analyzed the flight as a sequence of moments
To represent the phenomenon, the researchers began by calculating the air moved by a single ibis. Then, they added a second bird within this region and checked how its wings reacted to the currents produced by the leader.
The wake was not treated as a static structure. As the wings continuously rise and fall, the air distribution changes at every moment, creating different conditions during the same flapping cycle.
The team divided the flight into small intervals, similar to frozen frames of a recording. In each of them, the model calculated lift, thrust, and other aerodynamic forces, allowing them to identify where the savings arose from.
The analysis showed that the main benefit was related to forward displacement. The current generated by the first bird reduced the portion of thrust that needed to be produced by the second.
With less force required in that direction, the animal could decrease the vertical movement of the wings without losing its position. This change was responsible for the estimated 11% reduction in mechanical power.
The study thus offers a more detailed explanation than simply stating that the formation reduces effort. It indicates which component of the flight is altered and how this change appears in the body movement.
Previous experiments indicated even greater savings
The results align with tests previously conducted in Kenny Breuer’s laboratory with starlings. In those controlled experiments, animals positioned behind others showed a reduction of up to 25% in the energy cost of flight.
The numbers are not identical because the studies involved different species, conditions, and methods. The new model focused on the interaction between two individuals and used specific characteristics of the northern bald ibis.
Even with these differences, both studies point to the same conclusion: the spatial organization of the group can transform the turbulent wake of one bird into an advantage for another.
Discovery about birds can guide drone swarms
The identified principles can go beyond biology. According to Breuer, understanding these interactions could help in planning groups of drones used in activities such as agriculture and firefighting.
Small aircraft organized cooperatively could adjust position and movement to exploit currents produced by the equipment ahead. This could potentially reduce the power required from the engines and extend the duration of operations.
The technological application will still depend on further studies, as drones have different shapes, propulsion systems, and control methods than birds. Even so, the model provides a basis for investigating how flying machines can share aerodynamic advantages.
The current research examines only the relationship between two animals, while real formations can gather many individuals. The authors’ intention is to incorporate this basic interaction into broader models capable of reproducing the behavior of an entire flock.
In large groups, each member can receive currents from more than one direction, change its position, and react to the movements of its neighbors. These changes make the calculation more complex but also bring the simulation closer to what occurs in nature.
Source: Olhar Digital
