Hawk Study Reveals Bird Flight Insights

Researchers use motion capture and wind tunnel modeling to understand how Harris's hawks shift wing and tail shape to fly through obstacles.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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A new study from researchers at the University of Oxford and the University of California, Davis, published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, shows how birds can rapidly shift their wing and tail shape to fly through narrow gaps, a capability that is difficult to reproduce in uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs). The researchers used motion capture imaging and wind tunnel modeling to study how a Harris's hawk changes its aerodynamics when flying through a narrow gap, finding that the bird shifts from an unstable to a stable state, unlike traditional aircraft.

Why it matters

Understanding how birds can rapidly change their shape and aerodynamics in flight could lead to improved designs for UAVs, which struggle to match the agility and obstacle-avoidance capabilities of birds. The insights from this study could also advance our broader knowledge of avian flight mechanics and control.

The details

Researchers from the University of Oxford and the University of California, Davis used a combination of motion capture and wind tunnel modeling to study how a Harris's hawk changes its wing and tail shape as it flies through a narrow gap. They filmed the hawk gliding through a gap created by two soft poles, then constructed models of the hawk's wing and tail at different points in the maneuver and tested them in a wind tunnel. They found that when the hawk tucks its wings, it shifts from an unstable to a stable state, unlike traditional aircraft which usually maintain a single stability state.

  • The study was published on March 4, 2026 in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface.
  • The research was conducted at the University of Oxford's flight hall and the wind tunnel facility at the UC Davis College of Engineering.

The players

Kiran Weston

Researcher from the Oxford Flight Group.

Graham Taylor

Professor from the Oxford Flight Group.

Huanglun (Adam) Zhu

Doctoral student at the University of California, Davis.

Christina Harvey

Assistant professor at the UC Davis Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

Harris's hawk

A bird of prey found in the arid areas of the U.S. Southwest, Mexico, and South America, known for its ability to hunt in teams and rapidly shift its flight shape.

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What’s next

UC Davis has recently completed its own flight hall, the Center for Animal Flight and Innovation, equipped with motion capture and high-speed video technology. The center will bring new insights into bird flight and potentially, drone technology.

The takeaway

This study highlights the remarkable flight capabilities of birds, particularly their ability to rapidly change their wing and tail shape to navigate through obstacles. Understanding these mechanisms could lead to significant advancements in UAV design and control, allowing them to better mimic the agility and maneuverability of avian flight.