Feathers and Molt

Question 1

Bristles

Answer 1

Act like eyelashes, protecting, and to sense prey

Question 2

Contour Feather

Answer 2

Question 3

Crest

Answer 3

Question 4

Down Feather

Answer 4

Primarily serve as insulation

Question 5

Filoplumes

Answer 5

Used for sensory, possibly in flight - wind direction, feather placement during flight

Question 6

Greater Coverts

Answer 6

Question 7

Lesser Coverts

Answer 7

Question 8

Median Coverts

Answer 8

Question 9

Powder Down

Answer 9

Powder downs, which occur in a variety of birds, including some parrots, are specialized feathers, usually found in well-defined patches, that produce a powdery substance used to clean and waterproof the other feathers.

Question 10

Primary Coverts

Answer 10

Question 11

Remiges

Answer 11

Wing feathers

Question 12

Retrices

Answer 12

Tail feathers

Question 13

Scapulars

Answer 13

Question 14

Under tail coverts

Answer 14

Question 15

upper tail coverts

Answer 15

Question 16

Aftershaft

Answer 16

Question 17

Barb

Answer 17

Question 18

Barbiule

Answer 18

Question 19

Barbicel

Answer 19

Question 20

Calamus

Answer 20

Question 21

Pennaceous

Answer 21

Question 22

Plumulaceous

Answer 22

Question 23

Rachis

Answer 23

Question 24

Vane

Answer 24

Question 25

Carotenoid

Answer 25

Carotenoids produce bright reds, oranges, and yellows. Many of the foods that birds eat, such as berries, seeds, and insects are loaded with carotenoids, and birds must ingest these carotenoid-rich to color their feathers.

Question 26

Melanin

Answer 26

Melanins produce mainly earth tones, such as black, brown, reddish brown, gray and olive colors. Birds can produce melanins from the basic amino acids that occur naturally in the body.

Question 27

Structural Colors

Answer 27

Produced by the interaction of light and the microscopic structure of the surface of the feather, not by pigments. The microscopic structureof the feathers absorbs longer wavelengths and reflects the shorter wavelengths. This produces bright blues and greens as well as UV coloration. White feathers are an example of structural coloration where there are no underlying pigments and all visible wavelengths are reflected back.

Question 28

Apteria

Answer 28

Spaces without feathers

Question 29

Pterylae

Answer 29

Linear tracts of feathers

Question 30

Brood Patch

Answer 30

Patch of featherless skin on breast during nesting, transfers heat to incubating eggs.

Question 31

Plumage

Answer 31

All of the bird’s feathers collectively

Question 32

Molting

Answer 32

As feathers become damaged or warn, the old feathers are shed and replaced with brand new (often newly colored) feathers.

Question 33

Pre-juvenal molt

Answer 33

Natal down is shed and replaced by the first set of adult feathers. Birds may remain in juvenal plumage fora a long while follwing nest fledging.

Question 34

Pre-basic molt

Answer 34

Juvenal plumage is replaced by basic plumage. This will repeat annually and the basic plumage will be replenished with new, fresh feathers OR breeding birds in alternate plumage return to their basic plumage for the non-breeding season.

Question 35

Pre-alternate molt

Answer 35

Basic plumage is replaced by alternate plumage.