Can a Bird Stall and Crash?

[NorthernFocus]

You be the judge...

In the name of full disclosure these are two separate birds. I didn't capture the first one in the water and didn't capture the second one "crashing".

1)


2) It makes a fairly decent swan imitation though rides a little low in the water.

[Shadowman]

Nice shots.

[ccphoto]

I've seen them crash while chasing one another to get the attention of a suitor, but never seen one totally screw up and dump due to a miscalculation...but I haven't seen everything yet.

[JohnRostron]

Nice pictures!

On a technical note, quite a few larger birds will delberately stall when they want to lose height rapidly. For example, geese in a flock, about to land on a field. They are more vulnerable to predators if they take their time.

John

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for the comments, folks. Glad you enjoyed the shots.

...On a technical note, quite a few larger birds will delberately stall when they want to lose height rapidly...

Which was the case here, John. Not crashing at all though it has that appearance. These wading birds were flying out over a river and diving on fish in deep water. Their bodies not designed to do so but they manage to bend the aerodynamics to meet the immediate need. It was interesting that the still photo captures the evidence of stall(i.e.the ruffled feathers) which isn't visible when seen real time. I've captured this many times in various species of birds. And yes it is very evident when geese make a steep decent to land.

[Artshot]

Really like the light coming thru the wings. What kind of bird is it?

I hear puffins are masters of crashing when they first leave the rookery.

[NorthernFocus]

Really like the light coming thru the wings. What kind of bird is it?

I hear puffins are masters of crashing when they first leave the rookery.

I believe it's a great egret. I have some nice shots from yesterday with the light coming through the wing feathers. I'll try and get some posted.

From my limited experience the puffins don't outgrow the crash landings. Their only saving grace is that they bounce well.

[Manfred M]

From my limited experience the puffins don't outgrow the crash landings. Their only saving grace is that they bounce well.

To paraphrase a friend of mine, who is a birder, regarding how puffins fly:

1. Take-off - walk up to edge of a cliff and flap wings like crazy, then jump off.

2. Landing - flap wings like crazy, stick out feet and hit the ground. With a bit of luck not too many somersaults. Get up an look happy to have survived another landing.

Having watched puffins a few times, I would suggest my friend's assessment appears to be quite accurate.

[JBW]

a stall occurs when the airspeed is (either intentionally or by pilot error) insufficient to maintain a smooth airflow over the wings. Simply folding up the wings and dropping would not be a classical stall.

Dan, I don't doubt your skills but I don't know if you have the equipment needed to see if it is a true stall or a folding of the wings. But if you do it would make an interesting challenge.

[NorthernFocus]

...Dan, I don't doubt your skills but I don't know if you have the equipment needed to see if it is a true stall or a folding of the wings...

The ruffled feathers on both top and bottom of the wing indicate the loss of smooth airflow over the wing, i.e. a stall condition. One difference between a bird and airplane is that the bird is not a fixed wing vehicle. Stall is not dependent on speed as the bird can control wing shape, position, and angle of attack without necessarily changing airspeed, direction, and/or overall attitude. They can basically throw themselves into a stall at will.

Large wading birds like this are typically seen flying placidly along in more or less straight line flight. But they are capable of some pretty dramatic aerobatics when necessary. That's why I posted these particular shots. They are both way out of the ordinary of what one expects from this particular species. Until last year I had no idea that herons/egrets swim. At least not voluntarily.

[Wavelength]

Great clarity and perfection

[Geoff F]

Today I was watching a Kestrel hovering for several minutes just 15 ft directly above my head, on the clifftop in a good breeze. Twice it got pushed too high by the wind updraft so it just closed its wings and instantly fell to its desired height where it continued hovering.

[Tronhard]

Having spent hours watching David Attenborough's documentaries in which albatrosses and other large sea birds crash land, I would be a supporter of the proposition that for some birds, as a matter of course, any landing they can walk away from is a good one!