Search results
Learn about the diversity and complexity of feathers, the unique structures that only birds and their dinosaur ancestors have. Find out how feathers work, function, develop, and evolve, and what contour feathers are.
- Mya Thompson
Contour feathers are the main feathers of birds that form their body outline and streamline them for flight. Learn about their structure, function, types, and evolution from Britannica articles on ornithology and anatomy.
- Down feathers. Down feathers are the softest types of feather on a bird. They are located close to the skin and are not as rigid as outer feathers. They lack a hook in the central axis of the feather, instead having very soft and flexible filaments that interconnect to form a soft, light structure.
- Contour feathers. Contour (sometimes contoured) feathers are the most visible type of feather on a bird's body. They are characterized by having a rigid central axis with barbs on both sides.
- Flight feathers. Flight feathers are essential elements for bird flight. These feathers are long and stiff. They are located on the wings and tail, playing a critical role in a bird's ability to fly and maneuver.
- Semiplumes. Semiplume feathers are an intermediate type of feather between down and contoured feathers. They are distributed throughout the body of birds, but are especially prominent in areas such as the neck, head and chest.
Learn about the different types of feathers and their roles in bird anatomy, physiology, and behavior. Contour feathers are the outermost feathers that create the body color and patterning of the bird, while flight feathers are the large, stiff feathers on the wings and tail.
- Flight. Feathers are critically important for flight in birds. The flight feathers form long, broad surfaces that have the physical properties needed to generate lift and thrust.
- Insulation. Birds are endotherms like us. In other words, they’re warm-blooded. So, like us, they need to maintain their body temperatures within a narrow range.
- Waterproofing. Feathers provide most birds with a water-resistant—if not water-proof—outer covering. If down acts like a puffy insulating parka, the contour feathers are like the rain jacket.
- Display. One of the things we love most about bird feathers is how colorful they are. The plumages of countless species are jaw-droppingly gorgeous. They combine colors in ways that even a skilled artist might think would never work together.
People also ask
What are contour feathers?
Why do birds have contour feathers?
What is a Roadrunner in-flight contour feather?
What are contour feathers & semiplumes?
Nov 29, 2021 · Contour feathers are the feathers that appear first to us when we see a bird near us. The leading contour feathers cover the body of a bird and maintain the protective layer and structure of the bird's skin.
Aug 11, 2009 · Learn about the different types of feathers, how they are used by birds and how they are made of keratin. Find out how feathers help birds fly, keep warm, sense and look beautiful.
