Bird feathers have many different functions. Softer down keeps a bird warm and stiffer wing feathers are used for flight. Feathers are also important in communication. Bright plumage can say ‘hey, ...

The Number of Feathers Varies Dramatically by Bird Species In general, small songbirds sport between 1,500 and 3,000 feathers, eagles and birds of prey have 5,000 to 8,000, and swans wear as many ...

Smithornis broadbills produce loud wing song by aeroelastic flutter of medial primary wing feathers. J. Exp. Biol. 219, DOI: 10.1242/jeb.131664 Journal information: Journal of Experimental Biology ...

Discovering the Physics Behind the Feathers To see how the flaps worked, the team ran detailed tests in a 30-foot-tall wind tunnel. There, they could simulate airflow over a 3D-printed model wing ...

Life Close-up photographs capture feathers' dazzle factor Heidi and Hans-Jürgen Koch photographed various feathers housed at the Museum of Natural History in Berlin to create these vibrant images ...

Look for the first Canada geese to fly again. The adults have been flightless since about mid-June or a bit later while they molted their wing feathers. The young that hatched this spring also ...

The raven-size creature long thought of as the earliest bird, Archaeopteryx, may have been adorned with black feathers, researchers have found.

And these feathers start growing out,” said Saake, 73, a retired waterfowl biologist for the state of Nevada. He traced the iridescent patterns of the wing feathers with his finger.

It was in great body condition, very clean, but all of these feathers are freshly cut. There’s nothing left to the wings and tail. Which is just sad and horrific to do,” Zorge said.