A Boeing 737 prepares to land at LAX airport and shows the mechanics of its slats and flaps. Many birds have evolved a counterpart similar to leading edge slats: the alula feather, which is Latin and translates as wingtip, is a small feather or group of feathers found underneath the leading edge of the wing of many modern bird species. In most situations, the alula is held flush against the wing; however, it can be manipulated to change the shape of the wing. When flying at slow speeds or landing, the bird moves its alula slightly upwards and forward, which creates a small slot on the wing's leading edge. This functions in the same way as the slats on the wing of an aircraft, allowing the wing to achieve a higher than normal angle of attack – and thus lift – without resulting in a stall.