Having feathers is one of the most distinct features of birds. In fact, birds are the only living group of animals that have feathers. Not all feathers are the same however. Take a walk, find some feathers, and explore what they do!
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1. Find an area where birds are common. Go for a walk and collect as many feathers from the ground as many as you can.
2. Classify the feathers into groups as shown below:
a. Wing Feathers – These feathers will be firm and strong and have a hollow tube. The tube is light because it’s hollow, but also strong. Wing feathers have more feather on one side of the tube than the other. The side with more feather faces the body, so you can determine if the feather was on the left or right side
b. Tail Feathers – These feathers will be as strong as wing feathers, with the same hollow tube going down the center. Unlike wing feathers, however, these feathers will have equal amounts of feather on both sides of the tube
c. Body Feathers – These feathers will not be as strong wing or tail feathers. They will be more flexible and colorful.
d. Down Feathers – These will be the softest, most flexible feathers of all.
What’s Happening: Each feather looks different because it has a different purpose. Wing and tail feathers assist in flying and gliding. Body feathers give the bird color, which can help them in blending in for camouflage or standing out to attract a mate. Down feathers provide insulation. They are under the body feathers and keep heat in or out depending on the weather.
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One of my favorite birds is the Ptarmigan. We saw a few when my husband and I were in Alaska. They perfectly blend in with their surroundings according to what season it is.They have pure white feathers in the winter and then molt and change to brownish feathers in the spring/summer. Here’s a link if anyone’s interested. http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=rockptarmigan.main
no we didn’t take a picture but it is the size of a pellet and same color
Do you have a photo you can send me?
We found something interesting. It’s not a feather but looks like an owl pellet except it was found in a nest in a tree and not on the ground. It seems to be filled with corn pieces and does not contain the rodent hair and bones that pellets usually do. What do you think it is?