Feathers types
- 1. 1 Class AVES.(BIRDS) FEATHERS TYPES: Feathers fall into one of seven broad categories based on their structure and location on the bird’s body. WING FEATHERS: The wing feathers specialized for flight are characterized by uniform windproof surfaces, or vanes, on either side of the central shaft that are created by an interlocking microstructure. Also called remiges, these feathers are asymmetric with a shorter, less flexible leading edge that prevents midair twisting.
- 2. 2 Class AVES.(BIRDS) TAIL FEATHERS Most tail feathers, or rectrices, feature an interlocking microstructure similar to wing feathers. Arranged in a fan shape, these feathers support precision steering in flight. Typically, birds have six pairs of feathers on the tail, which display increasing levels of asymmetry toward the outer pairs. In some birds, tail feathers have evolved into showy ornaments that are useless in flight. CONTOUR FEATHERS Contour feathers are what you see covering the bird’s body and streamlining its shape. Arranged in an overlapping pattern like shingles, the waterproof tips are exposed to the elements and the fluffy bases are tucked close to the body. Sometimes brilliantly colored or uniformly drab, contour feathers can also help the bird show off or stay camouflaged. Contour feathers on the wing, called coverts, shape it into an efficient airfoil by smoothing over the region where the flight feathers attach to the bone.
- 3. 3 Class AVES.(BIRDS) SEMI PLUME Mostly hidden beneath other feathers on the body, semi plumes have a developed central rachis but no hooks on the barbules, creating a fluffy insulating structure. DOWN Similar to semi plumes with an even looser branching structure but little or no central rachis, down feathers are relatively short and positioned closest to the body where they trap body heat. FILOPLUME Short simple feathers with few barbs, filoplumes function like mammal whiskers to sense the position of the contour feathers.
- 4. 4 Class AVES.(BIRDS) BRISTLE Bristles are the simplest feathers, with a stiff rachis that usually lacks barb branches. Most commonly found on the head, bristles may protect the bird’s eyes and face. FUNCTIONS OF FEATHERS: Each feather on a bird’s body is a finely tuned structure that serves an important role in the bird’s activities. Feathers allow birds to fly, but they also help them show off, blend in, stay warm, and keep dry. Some feathers evolved as specialized airfoil for efficient flight. Others have been shaped into extreme ornamental forms that create impressive displays but may even hinder mobility. Often we can readily tell how a feather functions, but sometimes the role of a feather is mysterious and we need a scientific STUDY. BIRDS FLYING WITH FEATHERS.