How Wings Work -- A reference for creature props

[@Samata94]

Ten years later and this is still a great ref video for wings. Really nicely put and I love the treatment the bird get. I have seen to many videos using animals as props to illustrate a point and having zero regards for the animals comfort.

[@Ash-gl2bb]

14 years later, and this has been extraordinarily helpful in my wing design for angels

[@gryphern]

I believe the correct phrase is "one bad relationship away from becoming the crazy bird lady." *Firm nod.*

[@RiverVmanna]

Your relationship with your little buddy is adorable. I wish I had the video rolling always so I could catch some very entertaining moments with my duck. He is so much smarter than most people give ducks credit for. Giving them sincere attention develops a rich character. Otherwise they just think of you as a source for food. I see that you are aware of all this already.

[@tobyarmbrust8260]

YOUR BIRD IS ADORABLE!!!

[@erenender66]

thank you for making this! i'm an artist who's trying to work with avian characters and this is going to really help me in character design and anatomy

[@gryphern]

Yeah, cats are super bird killers, and even if they just bite, their pointy tiny teeth kind of inject bacteria, so what they don't chew up they infect to death. I had 3 cats when my bird was little, and only one of them was allowed to be out and about when the bird was. The bird loved the cat and would run up to it and yell "kiss kiss!" then proceed to smooch it on the nose. The cat also followed the bird and made distressed yowls when the bird went somewhere "illegal" like the coat closet.

[@nidhishshivashankar4885]

I wish I saw this video years and years ago, “they don’t just fold but they twist around” just unlocked a lightbulb in my head 🤯 thank you so much

[@audreywhalen5141]

This is super helpful and exactly the resource I was looking for. I’m trying to make a possible crow stuffed animal and I wasn’t sure how to do the wings, but if I imitate the bones and joints with wire I can just put the feathers and stuffing around it and it will bend realistically (in theory). Thank you!

[@lunahaddixmoon953]

This was a very informative video. I do a lot of drawing and started learning about wings. this helped a lot with wing anatomy.

[@raysartworld2030]

You are Awesome!! This is the absolute best explanation I've found to date. Fantastic simplification and thus a tremendous help in my with my artwork. Thank You...

[@Aikachi]

You are a wonderful person. I don't really create props, but remembering the wings as different sections will help me draw wings more realistically, thank you!

[@a.p.3430]

Rudy is adorable

[@ianthefifth7790]

2:07 "I'll knock yer fookin ead m8 swear it on me mum."

[@AnnamaeTezuka]

Than you SO MUCH for this reference. It was really informative. The live bird demonstration was both a great theory-into-practice example AND absolutely adorable. That bird's a cutie.

[@fhlwrhqrhqfnb]

was randomly curious about wings, stayed for you and your bird being cute together. Thanks for sharing.

[@meepmaster3863]

Using this for a animation 15 yrs later, thank u!

[@muhammahnumanmughal7817]

I came here because I wanted to animate my bird's wings but stayed because the video is fun.

[@Cocoa9o]

This was exactly what I was looking for thank you bunches!! Also you have an adorable bird!

[@shadowhunter5250]

This was not what I was looking for, but I'm still glad I found this

[@gryphern]

Ducks and geese are amazing. When they decide they like you, that you're part of their "flock," they stick with you unlike any other animal. And they have a clear sense of trust. I used to go walking at dawn in summer, and I chased a red fox off from a goose nest. After that I was "in" and the geese would let me in really close to play with their goslings for years after.

[@squidyparty]

12 years and this is still very useful

[@13x666]

Everything about this video is brilliant! :D

[@SnowyBlizzard]

I know this was 12 years ago but i just wanna mention that I can only hear it out of one ear lol

[@gryphern]

I KNOW. My video editor at the time insisted on mono. Some people have devices that only play one speaker for mono instead of combining both L R audio feeds, and they simply will not get any audio.

[@FHBStudio]

Added to my list of art tutorials. Though I'm not into making props or suits, it really helps in understanding wings better, despite already being able to draw decent ones ^^ Thanks for the upload, and thanks to your bird friend :3

[@itsgreenandblue1033]

Great resource for me! been studying birds for animation; rudy is great and I enjoyed him messing around with you at the end

[@13gondolla37]

This is so incredibly helpful! Also that bird is the most adorable happy critter, I just wanna hug it!

[@Pandapelt]

THAT BIRD IS SO ADORABLE and well trained it seems

[@gryphern]

@TiannaMVA pt 1 Rudy is a blue-front Amazon, specifically the xanthopteryx subspecies (which is why he's so yellow on the head and in his elbows [wing-bows??]) He's 22 years old, and supposedly was trapped in the rain forest as a baby before going through 4 different homes of people who couldn't care for him. He still says all the things he heard at those houses in the voices of the people he lived with, which is why he can say "I'm talking to you so listen you f-ing fat w-ore."

[@iamvoicelessmusic]

This is extremely helpful! I'm an animator and as you can guess, I'm doing a project where I have to animate a bird in 3D space. The whole process has been a challange, because 1) this is my first time animating a bird, and 2) finding the right references has been particularly tricky. This video has by far had the best explanation, and I believe it will really help me in the process. Thanks again!

[@gryphern]

He is a blue-fronted Amazon. He is at least 25 years old, but his history is unclear before then. He is trained to return to my arm during flying, so he goes outside a lot. His favorite thing in the world is digging holes in lawns and his favorite food is yogurt covered raisins. He lives his girlfriend and has his own porch. He is the best of my birds at counting and recognizing numbers. He was Ben's pet when Ben was a little boy and we got him back now that Ben is an adult.

[@derp-construction3341]

That is the first time I've seen an Amazon put finger in its beak, and the finger come out intact..

[@cravenlunatic1]

This was quite informative, and the bit at the end with your bird was absolutely adorable. He's the cutest. ^^

[@mentallyy.sillyy]

Thank you!! This 14 year video helped me understand bird wings more then my art teacher tried to teach me 😭

[@TheGazingHeart]

wonderful reference and adorable bird! thank you!

[@xXSnowFrostXx]

your bird is precious:33 thank you so much for this reference

[@screenmagic13]

I often find it necessary to break all these rules within the same film... it certainly adds production value! :)

[@tkudla707]

Your bird is so cute

[@jonbarbosa9331]

Needed help with animation on a mechanical robotic wing model on Maya and this helped me understand how it works. Thank you so much! and that bird is awesome!

[@maxhu4976]

Thank you so much for this video, the reference was really helpful! Plus his colored feathers were perfect for showing the different parts of the wing, and Rudy was so funny :)

[@JonnieZombie]

This was a surprisingly good video. You explained things very well and had fun with a parrot. Will watch more of your videos.

[@gryphern]

@TiannaMVA pt 2 That also makes him a "rescue bird." Despite an awful time growing up, he's okay now. Since moving in with us we taught him to fly, he lost 100 grams (he was very, very fat) built him a backyard flight aviary, a big tree in the living room, he has a mate to snuggle with and he goes out shopping every other week and picks out toys from the Parrot Safari Toy Factory. He also spends his evening on chatroullette, yelling at people who don't have their microphones turned on.

[@khaza1wolfgurl]

Thank you for posting this!! I've always wanted birds, but at the moment I'm not so fortunate! :) I am aspiring to make a semi-realistic, baby griffon plush with a pose-able skeleton, and I want to make sure I get the wings right, especially! (if I get this right, I'll make an adult one as well! ^^-)

[@lutfullahkarahanli]

I found you so many years later but i love you

[@oceanblue2358]

This is good for 2D art too. Thanks.

[@emb3r371]

as someone who is animating a crow, this is super helpful

[@付和雷同-p9g]

I was looking for a reference but this video is too cute for a study of anatomy XD

[@FinnIsSleepy]

I’m trying to make wings that will work like a birds (except for flight ofc) so this helped alot! Ty!

[@AudaciouslyDeluded]

Thanks so much for this video, it's a big help for me! I'm building a Secretary Bird in 3D and understanding how the wings fold is a massive bonus.

[@pierredesroberts8985]

Thank you, i learned a lot!... And i am now envious of having a bird like yours as a friend! 😃

[@gryphern]

Wing clipped birds can have a really high quality of life. Having flighted parrots in the house means double doors, curtains over windows, and never leaving the toilet seat up. And it also means we have to have a way to call the birds back if they go up high, or they go outside. It sucks to have to constantly work on that recall behavior, but if we don't have a reliable way to call the birds back, we might lose them.

[@Venaloid]

Aww I love that bird! I had cockatiels, but they were SO LOUD! I really wish I had a parrot or Cockatoo, but they're so expensive and I find I wouldn't have the time.

[@cermet7276]

Thank you so much for this! I am working on a fantasy novel, where humans have wings (but they're not angels!) and this helped me more than I can tell. Thank

[@screenmagic13]

Great! This gave me a clear direction for how to rig my bird model.

[@clearly-ambiguous]

Your bird is amazing. He is soo cute (personality-wise too)!! Thanks for the vid, it was really informative. : )

[@vuIturecuIture]

thats a beautiful bird u have there, i have always wanted a bird

[@clonious]

"screw this, i'ma go fly over on that chair. woo, nice view from up here, I can see my cagey thingy from here! Woh, the seed giver is commin over here... back off fella! I'ma bite ya! Take that! Aagh, backed against a ledge! grab ontah the finger! Wow hey, wot ya doin?! Get yer hand off me! Oi, that's my wing, lego my ego! I'ma bite yah, I'ma bite yah! Owch, twistin the wing, twistin the wing!" ...Sorry, the bird was talking in my head. I had to type it out.

[@juliadagostino2436]

Your bird is adorable

[@PlayJairus]

My left ear loved this.

[@gryphern]

The problem with super-small flying vehicles/suits is that 1; bulky crazy for urban living, 2, you are subject to anything the wind wants to do. For example, aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont had a tiny personal airship he would show off in by going around town, but it proved highly impractical. If interested in what personal flight would be like theres a brief account of Dumont's personal airship in the book Wing of Madness."

[@Trashgriffin]

I am just struggling with the feathers on my gryphon fursuit. I'm not quite sure if I should make the feather layers out of foam and put fabric over them or if I should just take fabric and add some inner support through wires. I will be able to open, close and flap them :)

[@Flash5Cartooning]

I'm struggling with a duck rig at the moment and this was very helpful. Thanks!

[@SmilinSweetpea]

It's my birth month flower. I used it once intending it for a password on a BB, but I accidentily entered it in the user name section, and a number of friends at church called me by that name for MONTHS. I grew to like it, so now I use it everywhere.

[@veizour]

Thanks for the details! (researching wings for R/C ornithopters)

[@sjafalconz]

"...ever to appear in a japanese anime" i love u already haha XD

[@ooferz3256]

This was very useful and an amazing reference I used for an animation I'm doing, plus it made me laugh. Birds are awesome

[@SmilinSweetpea]

Completely unrelated to your awesome, informative part of your video. I love Rudy. And my Monet was enjoyed the second half, as well (though I may have some explaining to do later as to why his wings are clipped and he needs a "polly trolly" ride any time he wants to go somewhere.)

[@fall-neckthetallneck2977]

THANK YOU!!! I'm working on making a sparrow in a 3D modeling program and trying to figure out how the wings fold up was a nightmare.

[@tessguo536]

This is soooooooooooooooo awesome I love birds! Rudy is adorable what breed is he?

[@Hubotnik]

excellent video, this has been an amazing reference for a personal project I've been working on. Thanks!

[@evilmark]

Informative and useful! Great stuff. Do you have a webpage with just pictures of wings in different poses?

[@TheComingApocalypse]

That's a beautiful bird. Bird is the word.

[@HikaruTokeshi]

I've been watching all of your videos.They're great!They are actually quite helpful!

[@rashmiranjannayak3251]

Your bird is very pretty and supports demonstration; u trained so nice. Thank you for sharing.

[@Nyokee]

Super useful and your bird is so cute 😍

[@AriesSeason]

That's good to know, your birds so cute you taught him well ^.^

[@indelaxiom]

This is a very very good reference video...Thank you soo much!!

[@gryphern]

@GeenaKay As a note, the bones in an out-stretched wing don't go perfectly straight out like I showed. I exaggerated for illustration purposes. Even a perfectly straight looking wing has a slight bend in the elbow.

[@isyeetboi2331]

Your bird acts exactly like my dog, it's so cute! 😂

[@swordofkings128]

Wow, very good informative video! Im trying to model a flamingo. Everything is easy but the wings had me stumped! This helps me understand how i should go about making my wings! Thank you :)

[@rabidpadme4298]

Thank you so much!!! This was extremely helpful!!!

[@xxTheemodragonxx]

Your bird is very beautiful

[@Moonflower-li9um]

Ahhh this video was made 15 yrs ago 😦

[@gryphern]

If he really chomps down, yes. But Rudy is just grabbing in this case, or else you'd see me bleeding or turning all red. His beak can act like a thumb and forefinger grip for playing, or a mouth for crushing depending on how he uses it. Despite being a pretty aggressive male Amazon parrot he seems to reign that in when he plays with other living things, like smaller birds or children. His companion, a smaller female will rip up your shizznit for pretty much no reason.

[@cary.c3753]

Good for my fursuit. Explains how wings can work. Thinking of making a dragon fursuit with auto-folding wings.

[@ChrisD__]

...

[@JBrooks018]

wonderful reference, thank you!

[@jasontassell]

great video, really useful reference - thanks!

[@maryannpayntor8805]

that's the cutest bird ever!

[@_gORE9]

Do you mind if I trace over the wings in the first few images so I can learn more about the anatomy?

[@beentheredonethatb4]

Great video and Rudy is a cutie. Love his personality.

[@Miyuki0Urahara]

i love this. it's a great reference

[@cathicksartist]

This was great. This really helped me out with my project. Thank you!

[@SwollaG7]

Cute and functional. =D Faved and 5-starred.

[@flyingace1234]

that is one well trained parrot

[@markmits9075]

0:15 0:48 1:08 1:13 1:22 I'm gonna leave these for myself. :-) Thank you this video is really helpful.

[@polilyen]

I am in love with your birb :0

[@nikolasnico4820]

Great video. I really enjoyed watching it. Thank you.

[@probounderxxx]

lol im planning to make my own bird using maya or 3dsmax and then make a modeling/rigging demo reel ;) maybe ill send you my bird so u can make a good animation with it ;)

[@danieldesenhodaniel]

Great video for finally understand this! thank you!!!

[@ogunshi]

I don't remember who said it but there is a quote that says... In the film business there three things you should never work with. They are Puppets, babies and animals." Still it was a very helpful video.