From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Feather variationsThis picture shows the parts of a vaned feather.When hiding thebittern holds its head vertical so its pattern matches thereeds more closely.Thetrain feathers of aBlue peacock are an example ofdisplay.Flamingos
Feathers are the things which coverbirds. They help keep birds warm. Feathers also protect them from injury. In most kinds of birds,wing feathers help them tofly. These are called flight feathers. Some people have their pet birds clipped. This is a procedure where a vet or a groomer cuts a certain amount of feathers to prevent the bird from flying away or simply for medical reasons.[1]
The main feathers which cover the outside of a bird are calledvaned feathers. Vaned feathers have a stiff center, with soft barbs on the side, which seem like hairs. The center is called aquill. This type of feather is calledpennaceous (= like apen).
Young birds have small feathers, calleddown, which keep them warm, but cannot be used for flying. Down is very soft. Adult birds have down, but also have vaned feathers on top of the down. Down is also used in blankets. Down feathers are just one example ofplumaceous feathers (the word means 'fluffy'). Another example is the feathers on flightless birds such as theostrich.
Birds lose their feathers at certain times. This is calledmoulting. By moulting, a bird can replace old feathers with new ones. Many birds moult once every year.
Feathers give birdscolor. The function of color in birds is extremely important. It includes:
Camouflage: it hides the bird in its naturalenvironment, especially when it is stationary in the nest. Camouflage is often backed up withbehaviour: see thebittern on its nest.
Display: birds carry display colors when they need to be noticed by other birds. Often the male of a pair will do the display and wear colors, while the female is camouflaged. Display is usually backed up by behaviour, especiallybird song. The main functions are:
People use feathers for many purposes. In the past, quills were commonly used aspens, and colorful feathers were worn on hats. Many pillows, cushions, mattresses, coats, and quilts are stuffed with down. Feathers are also used by people of many tribes for decoration.[2]
↑Prum, Richard O. & Brush A.H. 2002. The evolutionary origin and diversification of feathers.The Quarterly Review of Biology.77 (3): 261–295.doi:10.1086/341993
↑McLelland J. 1991.A color atlas of avian anatomy. W.B. Saunders.ISBN 0-7216-3536-9
