Feathers can keep warm, waterproof, help birds fly, and have colorful hues
How many interesting secrets does Little Feather still hold? Let’s learn about it together today
Get to know feathers
Feathers, for birds, are not as simple as beautiful outerwear. They are important tools for maintaining body temperature, protecting the body, and communicating. Of course, the most important thing is still flying.
Bird feathers can be divided into the following three categories based on their structure and function:
The first type of feather: This is a large feather that covers the body of a bird, consisting of a feather shaft and feathers. The shape of the feathers is relatively large, with a hard and straight texture. They are the main flight feathers of birds and also serve as protective and thermal insulation. They are arranged closely, especially on bird wings, overlapping to provide the necessary lift and stability during flight.
The second type of down feathers: down feathers, also known as golden feathers, are born below the main feathers and are most abundant in the chest and abdomen. Their feather axis is short, the feather branches are soft, clustered at the top of the feather axis, and the feather small branches are slender and do not have small hooks, and do not form feathers. The main function of feathers is to keep warm and protect the body. They are soft and slender, which can effectively lock in body temperature and maintain the stability of bird body temperature.
The third type of feather: The feather shaft of the feather is thin and long, with few feather branches, growing at the top of the feather shaft, and often without small feather branches. They are scattered around the edges of the eyes, the base of the beak, and below the feathers, mainly playing a sensory and protective role. Although not as conspicuous as feathers and down feathers, they still play an important role in the daily lives of birds.
The Magic of Color
Bird feathers come in various colors, and if all birds had the same color, the world would be too monotonous.
Some birds have dull brown feathers, which allows them to blend well with their surroundings and avoid predators. Some birds have bright and eye-catching feathers, which can attract mates very well. There are also some birds where males and females have completely different feather colors, with males having a high-profile bright color and females having a low-key dark color.
Pigments are the main source of color for bird feathers, which exist in the keratin structure of feathers and give them various colors.
Melanin is the most common type of pigment found in the feathers of almost all birds, capable of producing different shades from black to brown. There are two main forms of melanin: true melanin and brown melanin, and their proportion and distribution determine the final color of feathers.
In addition to melanin, other pigments such as carotenoids also play an important role in the formation of bird feather color.
These pigments usually come from the food of birds, such as fruits, flowers, and insects. Carotenoids can produce bright red and yellow colors, adding more color layers to bird feathers.
The Magic of Light
In some cases, the color of feathers is not directly produced by pigments, but rather by the special arrangement of feather structures and the interaction of light. This phenomenon is called structural color or physical color.
In the cuticle of feathers, there are many tiny air sacs or protein fibers that are arranged and combined in specific ways. When light shines on these structures, optical phenomena such as refraction, reflection, and interference occur, resulting in various brilliant colors. This color is not only bright and eye-catching, but often has a metallic luster or iridescent effect.
Feather changing
The feathers of birds are not fixed, they undergo periodic replacement, which is called “molting”. Feathering is a necessary physiological adjustment for birds, as they renew their aged or damaged feathers to adapt to new stages of life or environmental changes.
During the growth process, young birds undergo multiple molting, gradually transitioning from soft chicks to hard adult feathers, which also marks their transition from relying on their parents to living independently.
Adult birds also molt to cope with seasonal changes or reproductive needs. During the molting process, there may be a brief decrease in flight ability or difficulty regulating body temperature, but once the new feathers grow, they will be refreshed and rejuvenated.
Some migratory birds undergo molting before migration to ensure optimal flight and thermoregulation abilities during long-distance flights.
Some birds also replace their feathers with brighter colors and finer textures in order to attract mates and improve their reproductive success rate, which can better showcase the health status and genetic advantages of birds.
Feather maintenance
Birds attach great importance to the maintenance and upkeep of their feathers. You often see them pecking at their feathers with their beaks, which is actually cleaning, removing dirt and parasites, and maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of their feathers.
Many birds love cleanliness. They like to take baths, wash their feathers in water, and some even give themselves a sand bath SPA to keep their feathers clean and shiny.
There are also some waterbirds that prevent their feathers from getting wet with water by coating them with dense oil. And birds in the desert have special feather structures that can reduce water evaporation.
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Small feathers are not only works of art in nature, they not only make birds beautiful and charming, but also carry the wisdom of bird survival.
Let us feel the uniqueness and beauty of every living organism in nature with reverence.