Contour feathers edit
Flight feathers edit
Down feathers edit
Semiplumes edit
Filoplumes edit
Bristles edit
Bristles are stiff, tapering feathers with a large rachis but few barbs.
Loral bristles edit
Found around the eyes of some species of birds, loral bristles may serve a similar purpose to eyelashes in mammals.[1]
Rictal bristles edit
Rictal bristles are found around the bills of some species of birds. They may serve a similar purpose to vibrissae in mammals. While it has been suggested that these bristles may aid insectivorous birds in prey capture or that the bristles may have sensory functions, to date there has been no clear evidence of that.[1] In one study, Willow Flycatchers were found to catch insects equally well before and after removal of their rictal bristles.[2]
References edit
- ^ a b Roger J. Lederer (1972). "The role of avian rictal bristles" (PDF). Wilson Bulletin. 84 (2): 193–197. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
- ^ Conover, Michael R.; Miller, Don E. (1980). "Rictal Bristle Function in Willow Flycatcher" (PDF). Condor. 82: 469–471. Retrieved 14 February 2011.