Feathers

Question 1

What are the 4 main types of feathers?

Answer 1

Down, flight, contour and semi-plumes

Question 2

What are down feathers also known as?

Answer 2

Neossoptiles

Question 3

What are other feather types known as?

Answer 3

Teleoptiles (true feathers)

Question 4

What are the components of feathers?

Answer 4

Keratin, melanin and carotenoid pigments

Question 5

How is the colour white generated?

Answer 5

By the reflection of light that strikes the surface from turbid porous layers over melanin

Question 6

How are iridescent colours generated?

Answer 6

By interference of light

Question 7

Are feathers dead structures?

Answer 7

They are when fully grown but during growth they’re well endowed with blood vessels

Question 8

Where are contour feathers found on a bird?

Answer 8

All over the body

Question 9

What is the function of down feathers?

Answer 9

They’re soft and fluffy to trap air and create a layer of insulation next to the birds body

Question 10

What is the structure of a bristle feather and where are they found on a bird?

Answer 10

It’s a stiff shaft with barbs only on the base or not at all

They occur most commonly around the base of the bill, eyes and eye lashes

Question 11

What is the structure of a filoplume feather?

Answer 11

They’re hair-like feathers with a very fine shaft and a few barbs at the end

Typically covered by other feathers

Question 12

What is the function of filoplume feathers?

Answer 12

May function as pressure and vibration receptors

Question 13

What do semiplume feathers do?

Answer 13

Fill in between contour and down feathers

Question 14

What defines a bird?

Answer 14

The combination of flight feathers and the ability to fly

Question 15

How many primary flight feathers do most birds have?

Answer 15

10

Question 16

What determines the secondary feathers?

Answer 16

The ones attached to the ulna

Question 17

What was found when looking at a velociraptor bone?

Answer 17

They had similar lumps along the ulner called quill knobs

Question 18

What attaches to quill knobs?

Answer 18

The secondary feathers

Question 19

What are pterylae?

Answer 19

Discrete traces of feathers growing down the body and wings- these can be seen on a chick

Where the contour and flight feathers develop

Question 20

What is apteryia?

Answer 20

The spaces in between pyerylae- they’re covered with down and semi plume feathers

Question 21

What is the only gland a bird has and what’s its function?

Answer 21

Uropygial/preen gland

Produces a waxes, fatty acids and water to coat the feathers and keep them in good condition

Question 22

What structures make up a feather?

Answer 22

Calamus/quill, rachis (shaft), barbs, barbules, hooks and ridges and vanes

Question 23

What is the layout of the barbs and barbules on the feather?

Answer 23

The barbules on one of the barbs hooks onto the barbules on the barb next to it

Question 24

What are the 2 main hypotheses for feather evolution?

Answer 24

1. Evolves from filaments, to branching structures like downy feathers then into vaned structures
2. Evolved from a strap/scaly type skin, then a vaned structure and then into a downy structure

Question 25

What are the reasons for developing feathers?

Answer 25

``` Flight Insulation- perhaps most likely Display Prey capture- less likely Waterproofing- perhaps Temperature regulation ```

Question 26

What animal has critical evidence for the origin and evolution of feathers? (Its extinct)

Answer 26

Protopteryx fengninengis Extinct group of birds dominant in the Mesozoic era

Question 27

What is the evolutionary model for the early stages of feathers?

Answer 27

1. Elongation if scales 2. Appearance of central shaft 3. Differentiation of vanes into barbs 4. Appearance of barbules and barbicels

Question 28

What additional flight surfaces are there?

Answer 28

Tail Feet Streamlined back

Question 29

What is the definition of moulting?

Answer 29

Periodic shedding of the epidermal structures called feathers

Question 30

Why moult?

Answer 30

Feathers wear out Feathers that are worn are inefficient in flight and insulation Inefficient for waterproofing They will appear dull, making them poor at attracting a mate

Question 31

What can cause wear in feathers?

Answer 31

Abrasion UV damage Bacterial activity Mallophaga (feather lice) General wear and tear

Question 32

What increases the structural strength of feathers?

Answer 32

Increased melanin

Question 33

How can feather wear be used to a birds advantage?

Answer 33

Instead of moulting they change the colour of their feathers by wearing them down E.g chaffinch and reed bunting

Question 34

What are the two moult types?

Answer 34

1. Partial: body only | 2. Full: body and flight feathers

Question 35

What type of moult is the juvenile moult?

Answer 35

Partial moult- won’t moult it’s flight feathers

Question 36

What is a typical moult cycle for a Northern temperate resident species?

Answer 36

Juvenile undergoes partial moult After breeding it undergoes a full moult It then repeats the same cycle the following year

Question 37

In general how many full moults will a bird do in a year?

Answer 37

One

Question 38

Where does the flight feathers moult usually start?

Answer 38

The inner most primary, and the primary feathers move outwards

Question 39

When do the secondary feathers start moulting?

Answer 39

After the primary feathers are partly complete

Question 40

In Europe/Asia how many birds are involved in autumn migration every year?

Answer 40

5 million

Question 41

What are true migrants?

Answer 41

Those that move long distances and retain historical patterns of dispersal

Question 42

What is the cost of migration?

Answer 42

Travel can cause increased mortality risks and it’s imperative they get back to breed on time

Question 43

What do birds use for energy during migration?

Answer 43

Sub-cutaneous and intra-abdominal fat

Question 44

What additional source of fuel can be used during migration?

Answer 44

Protein

Question 45

Why is fat the main source of energy?

Answer 45

It has twice the energy and water per gram metabolised than protein or carbohydrate

Question 46

How is migratory behaviour stimulated?

Answer 46

By changes in photoperiod, which results in hormonal changes, particularly an increase in thyroid hormone