Can you name these feathers? They are a wing feather, down feather, and tail feather. The 7 feather types include wing feathers, tail feathers, contour feathers, down, semiplumes, filoplumes, and bristles.

Any time we see birds, we see their feathers, consciously or unconsciously. But in many ways birds’ feathers are a big part of our attraction to birds. Feathers provide the form and color of the birds we see, and they provide the functional material so birds can fly! Specialized feathers form crests, tufts, streamers, and other features that are important for birds when they display to establish a territory and to attract a mate or mates, so important to reproduction. And feathers truly separate birds from all other animals – only birds have feathers.

You have probably found a feather or 2 in your yard already, and you will likely find more as the nesting season progresses and adults begin to molt after nesting. It’s fun to find feathers, but how much do you really know about feathers? What kind of feather is it? What species did it come from? There is probably a lot of information you don’t know about feathers that is really interesting to learn about – and we have just the Free article for you to take a look at, provided by none other than the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

To start with, there are 7 feather types: Wing feathers, tail feathers, contour feathers, down, semiplumes, filoplumes, and bristles – and the information about feathers flows from that basic beginning. There is also an animated slide set you can download, and an interactive program about feather anatomy, including a microscopic look at feather structure. You will also learn about feather functions, how feathers develop and grow, and how birds maintain their feathers through preening, bathing, and weatherproofing – and there’s much more. It’s all provided Free online, by the Bird Academy, the learning center for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, at Everything You Need To Know About Feathers | Bird Academy • The Cornell Lab (allaboutbirds.org)

Information like this is great to share with other family members too, especially youngsters with a spark toward learning more about the natural world around them. And information like this will help to make you a better birder and appreciate birds all the more when you find out more about feathers – enjoy seeing the feathers and feathered birds around you.

Share your backyard birding experiences and photos with The Birding Wire at editorstbw2@gmail.com