In this section, we’ll begin by looking at flight features on a pigeon skeleton.

To simplify things, we will focus on only six features.

Click on each of the six colored bones to find out about each feature.

An enlarged, bony sternum provides a broad attachment area for the flight muscles.

The wrist has a rounded bone at its base. This allows it to flex sideways during flight.

Clavicles are fused to form a wishbone, a site of attachment for muscles that pull the wing down and forward.

The shoulder socket is directed up and out to allow for the range of motion needed to produce flight.

Most limb bones and the vertebrae have thin-walled bones for high strength and low weight.

The hand and finger bones are reduced in number and fused together. They support the wing and are a sturdy lever for powering the flight stroke.

Click on the right arrow below when you're finished exploring all six features.