Birds and Wishes

Wishbones are found in many birds, dinosaurs, and at Thanksgiving dinner. These fork-shaped bones are actually fused clavicles and they seem to play some role in helping birds flap. Just… not all birds. Birds like the starling, for example, have wishbones that store energy in their downstroke wing flaps. But other birds such as owls (who don’t have one) and falcons (who have really big, rigid ones) don’t seem to need this assist from this bone. In human cultures, we’ve used wishbones to predict weather and make wishes for the holidays. So, purchase one for yourself or for a friend. It’s a great gift for those who love birds, the physics of flight, bone evolution, and holiday wish makers.