noun
- A small projection on the wing of a bird, formed by feathers attached to the thumb bone, that helps control airflow during flight.
Usage: ornithology; also called bastard wing or spurious wing
Examples
- The alula is a small but important feature of bird wing anatomy.
- Ornithologists study the alula to understand how birds achieve precise flight control.
- The pigeon's alula helps it maneuver quickly through tight spaces.
- Without an alula, birds would have difficulty landing smoothly.
- The alula consists of just a few feathers attached to the bird's thumb-like bone.