Many bones are fused, e.g., the synsacrum is a fusion of much of the posterior vertebral column to allow the bird to maintain the proper position for landing, etc. Perching tendons assist in holding the bird in place. The sternum is large, broad, and keeled, allowing for muscle attachment. Briefly, the pectoralis muscle pulls the wings down and, with its tendon attaching to the upper side of the humerus, the supracoracoideus pulls the wings back up. The front limbs of the bird are made of fused bones for feather attachment.
Elliptical wings are short and broad, with many wing slots.
This wing form allows for high maneuverability and ease of quick take-off and landing, e.g., sparrows. High-speed wings sweep back and have a slender tip, to avoid drag at high speeds. These wings are efficient at high speeds for such birds as swifts that feed on the wing. Soaring wings are long and narrow, with no wing slots. While these wings are not maneuverable, they are useful for long periods of gliding, such as with albatrosses.