Furcula facts for kids
The furcula, often called the wishbone, is a special bone found in birds. It gets its name from the Latin words for "little fork" because of its shape. This forked bone is also found in some extinct dinosaurs.
The furcula acts like a strong support, or "strut," between a bird's shoulders. It connects to both of the bird's shoulder blades, which are called scapulae. A strut is a part that helps keep things from being squashed or pushed together.
This bone is actually made from two clavicles, or collarbones, that have joined together. For birds, the furcula is super important for flying. It helps make their chest skeleton strong enough to handle all the power needed for flight.
Contents
How the Wishbone Helps Birds Fly
Scientists have used X-ray films to study birds like starlings while they are flying. These films show that the furcula moves a lot during flight.
A Spring in the Chest
When a bird pulls its wings downward, the furcula expands, stretching out. Then, as the wings are lifted up, the furcula snaps back to its normal shape. This movement is like a spring working.
Storing Energy for Flight
The furcula stores some of the energy created by the bird's strong chest muscles when they contract. It then releases this stored energy during the upstroke of the wings. This helps pull the bird's shoulders closer to the center of its body, making flight more efficient.
Not All Birds Need It
Even though the furcula is very helpful for flight, it's not always completely necessary. Some birds can fly very well even if their furcula is smaller than usual, or if they don't have one at all!
Dinosaurs and the Furcula
Interestingly, the furcula wasn't just for birds. Several groups of theropod dinosaurs, which were often meat-eaters, also had furculae. This shows a connection between birds and their ancient dinosaur relatives.
Images for kids
-
Wishbone of a chicken
-
New Year postcard from around 1909 featuring a wishbone as a lucky symbol
See also
In Spanish: Fúrcula (aves) para niños
