Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Feathersoftenhelpcamouflagebirds,suchasthemottledbrownplumageofanAmer-
ican Woodcock that blends in with the forest floor.
Attracting a Mate:
Colorpatternsonfeatherscanhavetheoppositefunctionofcam-
ouflage. Some brightly colored plumage makes a bird highly visible. Many birds have
specialized feathers that appeal to mates.
The back feathers of many species of egrets and herons in breeding plumage are long
and wispy. The barbules of the long tail feathers of male Indian Peafowl are decorated
with a beautiful “eye.” The Resplendent Quetzal has tail streamers (actually elongated
rump feathers) that may be nearly twice as long as its body.
Special Functions:
The tail feathers that brace woodpeckers, swifts, and some other
birds against trees or other hard structures are very stiff.
Some insect-eating birds have specialized feathers called
rictal bristles
near their
beaks, with an extremely stiff shaft and no barbs. These may help funnel insects into the
bird's mouth or provide extra tactile sensitivity as do cat whiskers. Experimental data in-
dicates that they also protect the bird's eyes from debris as it captures moths and other
large, scaly insects in flight. Many birds have modified wing or tail feathers that allow
them to produce sounds for communication during courtship displays.
Let's See Some Identification
Q I was walking with one of my friends when we came upon a random yellow feath-
er. He looked at it for just a second and said it was a flight feather from the left wing
of a Northern Flicker. How could he possibly know that?
A
Yourfriendluckedintofindingoneoftheeasiestkindsoffeatherstoidentify.Hecould
tell it was a flicker's feather by the brilliant yellow color on the underside. No other spe-
cies except the Gilded Flicker, found in Southwestern deserts, shares this. (Feathers from
