LiD paragraph #8

LiD Paragraph #8

Feathers, Plumage, and Scales

This week’s paragraph is about feathers, plumage, and scales.  Plumage is all of the feathers on the bird like: the flight feathers, the body feathers, the lightweight feathers, and the down feather.  The feathers on a bird have little barb shape things that are connected to the hollow quill.  On the flight feathers there are barbs that are held into place by many smaller barbules.  These barbules are connected together in place by teeny tiny little hooks.  When the feathers fan out most birds can then fly.  The lightweight feathers are there to protect and prevent the bird from getting too cold.  Body feathers are the much softer feathers.  These feathers do not have the tiny hooks like the flight feathers do there hooks are only found at the top of the feather.  Down feathers are the softest feathers in the world.  They are the only feathers with no hooks all.  These feathers are the under coat that keeps the bird warm.  Ok enough of the feathers let’s move on.  Scales are the outer hard cover on a bird’s leg.  Theses scales are the same material as their beaks or claws. On most birds there scales do not overlap unless you are a knight fisher or a Wood Pecker.