Wing-Beat of Pigeons and Crows; Tail as a Brake
Some birds beat down faster, some up faster; swift flyers strike down and backward
This text-only page contrasts wing-beats among birds: some move their wings faster on the downstroke, as pigeons do, while others lower them more slowly than they raise them, as crows do. Birds that fly swiftly at an even height beat their wings downward and backward, downward just enough to resist their descent and backward as much as they wish to gain forward speed. The note ends by stating that a bird's speed is retarded by opening and widening its tail.
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Pigeons beat down faster, crows raise faster
Some birds move their wings with more speed in the down-beat than in the up-beat, as is seen in pigeons and the like; others lower their wings more slowly than they raise them, as is seen in crows and similar birds.
Downward and backward strokes; tail as brake
Birds that fly swiftly at an even height beat their wings downward and backward: downward as much as suffices to resist the bird's descent, backward as much as it wishes to go forward faster. The speed of birds is retarded by the opening and widening of their tail.