Animation of flying Pileated Woodpecker

An aid for interpreting videos of large flying woodpeckers...

I studied the Pileated flight videos frame-by-frame, which actually give a quite good study of the species at every stage of the wingbeat from multiple angles. I also examined references on bird flight mechanics. From this I created this sketchy, hand-drawn animation of a pileated in flight. This shows a bird flapping continuousy, as the do initially when just flushed from a tree, viewed from the side and behind, at HALF SPEED. It compares directly with a de-interlaced 30 fps digital video, such as the Luneau video from Arkansas. It is slow motion (1/2) when compared to a regular interlaced 30 fps video such as the Nolin video and most of the Cornell videos. The loop shows two wingbeats (the same 10 frames played twice); download it and play it as a loop, or click through it frame-by-frame, as you please.

220 kB quicktime video here

Notes --

The flight mechanics in these videos were actually quite consistent during the segments after the immediate post-launch stroke (where the bird is rotating and attaining proper attitude), and before the bird begin its approach to the next perch. The wingbeat I animated is one of typical speed; both faster and slower ones occur.

In the rear views, the wing surface visible in every frame except for the two upstroke frames (numers 9 and 10), and including the full upward extension frame (number 1), is the underside.

Actual woodpeckers are of course never positioned exactly like this relative to observers or cameras.

When I have a chance I will put together some additional animations that relate directly to the 2005 Arkansas "Mystery Bird."

Same comment rules as before; thanks.