Data from: Hot wings: thermal impacts of wing colouration on surface temperature during bird flight. ...

• Main Authors: Rogalla, Svana, D’Alba, Liliana, Verdoodt, Ann, Shawkey, Matthew D.
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: Dryad 2019
• Subjects: Larus fuscus; colour; radiative heating; Bird flight; Pandion haliaetus; wind tunnel; thermography; wing surface temperature; Morus bassanus; osprey
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.hh23pt5; https://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.hh23pt5

Recent studies on bird flight propose that hotter wing surfaces reduce skin friction drag, thereby improving flight efficiency (lift-to-drag ratio). Darker wings may in turn heat faster under solar radiation than lighter wings. We used three methods to test the impact of colour on wing surface temperature. First, we modelled surface temperature based on reflectance measurements. Second, we used thermal imaging on live ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) to examine surface temperature changes with increasing solar irradiance. Third, we experimentally heated differently coloured wings in a wind tunnel and measured wing surface temperature at realistic flight speeds. Even under simulated flight conditions, darker wings consistently became hotter than pale wings. In white wings with black tips, the temperature differential produced convective currents towards the darker wing tips that could lead to an increase in lift. Additionally, a temperature differential between wing-spanning warm muscles and colder flight feathers ... : Osprey Wing Surface TemperatureThis data file contains wings surface temperatures of live ospreys assessed with thermal imaging. Temperature of 11 individuals (named after ring number) was measured for different wing parts and positioning: ODM = open dorsal wing (muscular part), ODF = open dorsal wing (flight feathers), OVM = open ventral wing (muscular part), open ventral wing (flight feathers), CDM = closed dorsal wing (muscular part), CDF = closed dorsal wing (flight feathers).Osprey_Wing_Surface_Temperature.xlsxWind Tunnel - Wing Surface TemperatureThis data file contains wing surface temperatures measured on stuffed wings exposed to a light source in a wind tunnel. Temperatures were assessed for varying light intensities (Irradiance in W/m²) and wind speeds (m/s). We used differently coloured wings of ospreys, gannets and a lesser black-backed gull.Wind_Tunnel_Wing_Surface_Temperature.xlsx ...