Sternum

Imagine trying to hang a heavy picture frame on your wall without a sturdy nail to hold it up. Just as that nail is crucial for keeping the frame securely attached and preventing it from crashing down, the sternum in birds serves as the strong central anchor for their powerful flight muscles. In this analogy, the wall is like the bird's body, the nail represents the sternum, and the picture frame symbolizes the flight muscles; just as the nail provides a stable point for the frame, the sternum provides a central, robust attachment point for the muscles that enable birds to soar through the sky.