High-Speed Wings

  High-speed wings are adapted for speed. They're long, narrow, and pointed. By beating their wings quickly, birds with high-speed wings can fly incredibly fast.

  High-speed wings are shorter than active soaring wings. They’re fast, but unlike those with elliptical wings, these birds can maintain their speed longer.

  The long, slim shape and pointed tips give these wings aerodynamic excellence. The pointed tips reduce drag and turbulence, and the longer, narrower shape cuts through the air with minimal resistance.

  Birds with this wing type include swallows, swifts, ducks, falcons, terns, and sandpipers. They have lifestyles that demand swift flight for hunting, avoiding predators, or covering great distances quickly.