much as possible. Many physiological adaptations have evolved that make flight more efficient. Birds that settle on isolated oceanic islands that lack ground-based predators may over the course of evolution lose the ability to fly. One such example is the flightless cormorant, native to the Galápagos Islands. This illustrates both flight's importance in avoiding predators and its extreme demand for energy. See also Flight call Flying and gliding animals Insect flight List of soaring birds Ratites Tradeoffs for locomotion in air and water Patagium Notes References Alexander, David E. Nature's Flyers: Birds, Insects, and the Biomechanics of Flight. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press. (hardcover) and (paperback). Brooke, Michael and Tim Birkhead (editors). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Ornithology. 1991. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. . Burton, Robert. Bird Flight. Facts on File, 1990 Campbell, Bruce, and Elizabeth Lack (editors). A Dictionary of Birds. 1985. Calton: T&A D Poyse. . Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology handbook of bird biology. 2004. Princeton University Press. . (hardcover) Del Hoyo, Josep, et al. Handbook of Birds of the World Vol 1. 1992. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, . Wilson, Barry (editor). Readings from Scientific American, Birds. 1980. San Francisco: WH Freeman. . Attenborough, D. 1998. The Life of Birds. Chapter 2. BBC Books. . External links 'Flight in Birds and Aeroplanes' by Evolutionary Biologist John Maynard Smith Freeview video provided by the Vega Science Trust Beautiful Birds in Flight - slideshow by Life magazine 'Pigeon Take off in slow motion' YouTube video 'Bird Flight I' Eastern Kentucky University ornithology course site, with pictures, text and videos. How do hummingbirds hover? Discovery Birds can transition between stable and unstable states via wing morphing on Nature, released in CC-BY Flight Flight de:Fliegen (Fortbewegung)#Vogelflug