Unique Feathers

Birds are the only animals in the world today with feathers. Like our hair and nails, their feathers are made of dead keratin — a protein. Feathers serve various functions for birds: they insulate against cold, protect from wind and rain, aid in flight, and assist in camouflage. Additionally, during mating seasons, birds display their feathers’ colors to attract mates.

How do birds maintain their feathers?

Feathers are crucial to birds, and we often see them grooming and cleaning their feathers with their beaks or claws. Ducks and other waterfowl have oil glands at the base of their tails that secrete oils, which they regularly spread onto their feathers with their beaks. This oil acts like waterproofing, causing water droplets to slide off the feathers. Birds molt, or shed and replace their feathers, once a year. This process, called molting, happens gradually over several weeks. As new feathers grow in, the old ones fall out. Since most of the new feathers need to be fully grown before the old ones shed, molting does not affect birds’ ability to fly.

Why are feathers colorful?

If you flip through a bird guidebook, you’ll notice that male birds are often brightly colored, while females are usually more subdued in grays and browns. The reason is simple: females need to incubate eggs and try to avoid drawing attention. Conversely, males aim to attract female attention, especially during mating seasons. Typically, a male bird’s plumage isn’t constant throughout the year. Some birds dress up specifically for breeding, donning their finest colors like festive attire, only to molt afterward into drab plumage. As young birds mature, their feather colors also change.

How are colors produced?

The vibrant colors of birds’ feathers are created by just two types of pigments: melanins, which range from light brown to black, and carotenoids, which range from yellow to deep red. Different combinations of these pigments produce a wide array of hues. However, the most dazzling colors aren’t solely due to pigments but rather stem from the feather’s structure: the interaction of many barbs and a waxy layer with light produces the iridescence seen in feathers.