The structure beneath the skin

AS MUCH as birds have evolved powerful flight muscles and feathers, without a very specialised skeletal system, flight would be all but impossible for them.

The avian skeleton has evolved over millions of years to become one of the most sophisticated skeletal systems in the animal world. It is noted for both its lightness and its great strength, although over the course of time it has undergone much modification, not only to facilitate flight, but also to overcome the stresses of landing.

Birds have proportionally fewer bones than mammals, and this is partly because some