1. Feathers and Topography

2. Feathers Origin: Composed of beta-keratins
Originally thought to have evolved from scales
Now thought to be novel structures
Composed of beta-keratins
Weigh 2-3 times the skeleton

3. Functions of Feathers Protection Insulation Flight
A group of crows is known as a murder.
Functions of Feathers
Protection
Insulation
Flight
Visual Communication
Modified for more

4. Feather Structure

5. Feather Types Contour and Flight Down (plumules) Semiplumes Filoplumes
Bristles

6. Feather Maintenence Preening Bathing Dusting Sunning Anting
Chemical Defenses
The smallest bird in the world: Bee Hummingbird

7. Preening Uropygial gland a.k.a. - preen gland
produces oil (waxes, fatty acids, fat & H20)
located on rump at base of tail
present in most birds
Usually larger in waterbirds

8. Oil from uropygial gland
Cleans feathers
Preserves feather moistness
Preserves flexibility
Essential ???
Maintains structural integrity of feather
Allopreening - mutual preening by conspecifics
widespread, 43+ families
maintains pair bonds

9. More Maintenence Bathing Dusting similar to bathing Sunning
also helps with thermoregulation
Anting
treat feathers with live ants
widespread activity
studies have shown higher levels of dead ectoparasites

10. Chemical Defenses Not known in birds until 1992
3 species of shrike-thrushes (New Guinea forest birds)
Skin feathers produce deadly neurotoxin

11. Feather Color Protection from sun Heat absorption
Escape from Predation
cryptic coloration
countershading
Mating
Chemical and Structural
The most abundant bird? Possibly the Red-billed Quelea (Africa). 10 billion strong. (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)

12. Feather Growth Once fully grown, feather is dead structure
Grow from follicles in skin
Follicle collar- ring of feather stem cells (horizontal or tilted)
Old feather pushed out as new feather grows
Begins as tube
Outer layer: sheath
Intermediate layer: barb ridges

13. Feather Growth As feather emerges, cells filled with beta-keratin
Sheath cracks off, feather uncoils
Feather connected to blood supply as growing, living cells and blood vessels reabsorbed by follicle
Calamus remains in follicle, held by muscles and friction
See pages in Gill

14. Feather Tracts Feather tracts Diagram in packet
Feathers grouped into 9 tracts
Spaces between feather tracts are Apteria
Brood patch is specialized apteria
Penguins lack apteria
Diagram in packet

15. Molt Replacement of all or part of the plumage
Molt
Replacement of all or part of the plumage
Plumage changes seasonally and with age
Energetically taxing
Replace damaged feathers, breeding purposes
Take notes

16. What Influences Molt? Weather Behavioral requirements
migration
reproduction
Geographic location
tropics vs. temperate
Food availability

17. Molting Pattern for Typical Passerine
November - February
prealternate molt
March - May
Migration to breeding grounds
alternate plumage
June - July
Breeding period (egg laying / rearing)

18. Molting Pattern for Typical Passerine
July - August
prebasic molt
August - November
Migration to wintering grounds
basic plumage

19. Topography

20. For more details on topography, look in front of field guide.
Field marks to look for when identifying birds
Eye line
Supercilium line (line above eye)
Malar streaks
Upper wing coverts
Many more…………
A group of flamingoes is know as a flamboyance.

21. Terminology See handout, look for examples in lab Foot arrangement
Toes
Beak Shapes
Wing Shapes
etc. etc.