|
|
 |
|
From top center, clockwise: down feather,
filoplume, bristle, semiplume, and powder
down. Center: flight feather. Click on any of
these feathers to see a larger image.
Illustrations courtesy of Michelle Farrar. |
There are many different types of feathers. The two most common are flight feathers and body feathers.
The flight feathers include the rectrices (tail feathers) and remiges (wing feathers). They're structured to aid in flight.
In addition to flight and body feathers, birds also have down feathers. Down feathers are soft and fluffy because they don't have barbules and barbicels (the structures that hook feather barbs together). Down feathers help to keep a bird warm by trapping air close to the body, which insulates the bird from the cold.
In addition to these basic feather types, some birds have additional types of feathers. Semiplume and filoplume feathers are also called display feathers. These feathers are typically found on males and are used to attract females during mating season. Display feathers have a long rachis (shaft area) and very few barbs. The barbs that are present have no barbicels, so the barbs are unable to lock together, making for a small, unzipped feather.
Bristles are small, stiff feathers typically found on the heads of some birds. These feathers are used primarily for sensory functions. They have a stiff, tapered rachis and few (or no) barbs. They're often found around the mouth or eyelids. It's thought that bristles help insect-eating birds by acting as a net to scoop bugs from the air. An owl's long bristles are believed to help the owl sense nearby objects – which is handy, since owls are often farsighted. The bristle feathers over a woodpecker's nostrils seem to function together as a filter to keep out the dust that arises as the woodpecker drills holes in trees.
|
|
