Bird Feathers

The shaft is not down the center.  When the bird takes to the air, its wing feathers spread to create an aerodynamic surface. When the bird lands, feathers are flexible enough in their arrangement to enable the wing to fold neatly against the bird's body without bending or damaging the flight feathers.

Flight Feathers

Contour Feathers

Contour feathers give the bird its characteristic smooth round shape. They also give the bird its visual coloring and provide a first level of defense against physical objects, sunlight, wind and rain. Often in males they are colored to attract a mate, while in females they are camouflaged for protection during nesting.

Down feathers

 Down feathers help to keep a bird warm by trapping air close to the body, which

insulates the bird from the cold.Babies are covered ONLY in down

Tail Feathers

Tail feathers are balanced left and right of the center. Although they are considered flight feathers, they are

specially adapted to use for steering and mid-air breaking.

Display feathers

These feathers are typically found on males and are used to attract females during mating season.