Birds and Their Unique Singing Mechanisms

A Cornell University study led by Kimberly Boswick has identified a bird species, the club-winged mannequin, that uses its wing feathers to produce singing sounds. The research, conducted in an Andean cloud forest, shows that the bird vibrates its wings at over 100 cycles per second, twice the speed of hummingbirds. Using lasers, Boswick's team found that the club-shaped feathers vibrate at 1500 Hz, matching the sound frequency produced by the bird. Boswick suggests that other birds and arthropods, like the cinet moth and crickets, may also use their wings to create sounds, indicating a broader phenomenon that warrants further study.

Which university conducted the study on the club-winged mannequin?

• Harvard University

• Stanford University

• Cornell University

• Yale University

What unique feature does the club-winged mannequin use to create sounds?

• Its tail feathers

• Its beak

• Its feet

• Its wing feathers

How does the wing vibration speed of the club-winged mannequin compare to that of hummingbirds?

• Same speed

• Half the speed

• Twice the speed

• Three times the speed

What tool did Boswick's team use to study the feather vibrations?

• Microscopes

• Sound recorders

• Lasers

• Cameras

What frequency do the club-winged mannequin's feathers vibrate at?

• 500 Hz

• 2000 Hz

• 1500 Hz

• 1000 Hz

Which other creatures are mentioned as using their wings to produce sounds?

• Dragonflies and beetles

• Cinet moth and crickets

• Cicadas and grasshoppers

• Butterflies and bees