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26 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Weight of Dried feather...
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2X that of the same birds bones
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Feathers are...
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1. dead
2. alive while they are growing |
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Can the feather change color after it is done growing?
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No, except through fading or abrasion
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All feathers replaced at least once a year
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Molt
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What are feathers made of?
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Made up of Beta-keratin – fibrous protein polymer
Very durable Same protein that makes up claws and beaks of birds |
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Types of Feathers
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Vaned feathers
Flight feathers Contour feathers Down Semiplume Filoplumes Bristles |
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contour feathers and flight feathers
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Vaned feathers
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(primaries) asymmetrical vane
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Flight feathers
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– roughly symmetrical vane
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Contour feathers
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soft and fluffy(insulation)
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Down
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intermediate between contour and down (length of rachis is longer than longest barb
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Semiplume
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hair like feathers, often act as sensory feathers
Can surround flight feathers and tell the bird when they need to preen |
Filoplumes
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sensory
feather reduction |
Bristles –
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Feather Growth
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From follicles
Old feather falls out when new feather is growing in its place |
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Where does color come from?
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Either pigment or structure of feather
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earth tones, grays, blacks, browns
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Melanin (Biochrome pigments)
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yellows, orange, reds, certain blues and greens
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Carotenoids (Biochrome pigments)
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bright brown and
green |
Porphyrins (Biochrome pigments)
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What does light have to do with color?
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Micro structure – physical alteration of incident light
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What can trigger feather replacement?
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Accidental feather loss
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When and why does molting usually occur?
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Required lots of energy so usually timed after nesting or before migration
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Renewed after breeding? (feathers)
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Basic Plumage
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Special breeding plumage(not all birds have this)
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Alternate Plumage
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Some birds have....
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partial molt(not all feathers)
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Some birds mole only...
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once per year usually in the fall
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Some birds molt more---
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Frequently, breeding plumage, niche
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