Table 1 Definitions of flight types identified visually from time series plots
From: Can accelerometry be used to distinguish between flight types in soaring birds?
Flight type | Definition |
|---|---|
Flapping flight | A series of flapping bouts (>3) in constant flapping flight seen mainly in the heave channel |
Thermal soaring | Increasing altitude; no flapping; circling behaviour seen in x–y magnetometry channels |
Slope soaring | Increasing or maintaining altitude; no flapping; no clear circling pattern in x–y magnetometry channels; rather irregular changes in direction |
Gliding | Decreasing altitude; no flapping; often associated with relatively little change in direction in magnetometry channels |