News Animals

Here’s how high-speed diving kingfishers may avoid concussions

Specific genetic tweaks seem to protect brains from 40 km/h plunges into water

A picture of a kingfisher bird diving toward the water

Flying at speeds up to 40 kilometers per hour as they hit the water, plunge diving kingfishers (one shown) are at risk of damaging their beaks, heads and brains.

Andy Morffew/Flickr (CC BY 2.0 DEED)

By Claudia López Lloreda

Genetic tweaks in kingfishers might help cushion the blow when the diving birds plunge beak first into the water to catch fish.