Do All Birds Have Feathers? (7 Types + Why?)

Common traits that make a bird a bird include egg laying, a long beak, and being covered in feathers. But do all birds have feathers? Are there any exceptions or examples for featherless birds?

Join us to learn about plumage, molt patterns and how birds care for their plumage. So let’s get started, do all birds have feathers?

All birds have feathers, and even flightless birds don’t rely on streamlined wings to take to the sky. Bird feathers play an important role in regulating the birds’ body temperature, helping them attract mates and (in most cases) allowing flight.

The young of many bird species are born naked but develop their first set of flight feathers in the first few weeks of life.

The number and size of adult bird feathers vary by species. However, for all birds, their feathers play an important role in everything from foraging efficiently, attracting mates, keeping warm in winter, keeping cool in extreme heat, not getting submerged in heavy rain, to deterring predators. plays an important role.

Read on to learn more about whether all birds have the same type of plumage, and if a bird loses or damages its feathers, are they replaced?

All birds have feathers to help them fly, keep warm and attract mates

different types of bird feathers

There are seven classes of feathers that vary in their purpose, structure and location on the bird.

• wing: These feathers, also known as remiges, are attached to bone and skin with strong ligaments that allow them to withstand flight. A bird’s primary feathers are located on the outside of the wings and can be controlled and rotated for precise flight. Secondary wing feathers provide lift and drag during flight.
• Tail: Birds typically have six pairs of tail feathers, also known as tail feathers, only the longest two pairs are attached to the bony structure by ligaments. The tail feathers aid in steering and are fanned out for maximum streamlined flight.
• contour: Outline feathers cover the body of the bird and overlap each other to form the main color effect of the bird’s plumage. Outline feathers also appear on the wings, adding coverage to the exposed areas where the main feathers attach to the bird’s skeleton.
• Banyu: These fluffy feathers generally do not appear on the surface of the bird’s feathers, providing an insulating base layer.
• down: These short, fluffy feathers are the innermost layer, closest to the bird’s skin, providing warmth and insulation.
• Bristles: These are short, stiff feathers located around the bird’s eyes. These protect the bird’s eyes.
• Itoba: These tiny feathers, located on the underside of a bird’s wings and under its body, have the function of sensing the position of the contoured feathers and responding to atmospheric conditions such as wind speed.

Birds have seven different kinds of feathers

Why do birds have feathers?

Birds have feathers for two main reasons that are vital to their survival: to keep warm and to fly.

Young birds born without feathers risk dying from exposure to the cold unless their mothers continue to nurse them until their own feathers grow.

In juveniles and adults, feathers play an important role in regulating a bird’s body temperature. In cold weather, birds retain their body heat by ruffing their feathers and trapping air in the pockets between them.

The feathers have a waterproof coating that keeps the bird dry and warm in wet weather. In warmer temperatures, birds can cool themselves down to a more manageable level by rearranging their feathers to maximize heat loss.

Birds need feathers to fly; although bats and insects can fly without feathers, they are a very necessary part of the physiology of birds taking off and staying aloft.

Another but undeniably important use of feathers is the role of bird feathers in attracting mates. In many species, males with the most showy and impressive plumage during the breeding season are the most likely to find a mate quickly.

Instead, many birds rely on their feathers to ensure they don’t stand out, but instead are well camouflaged in their surroundings, making it harder for predators to spot them.

Being covered in feathers also protects birds from harm, as the delicate skin layer acts as a cushion.

Mandarin ducks have a variety of colorful feathers

Are there any birds without feathers?

Even flightless birds have feathers, although they are not necessary for flight. All flying birds need feathers to take to the sky.

The only birds that may be featherless are some newborn chicks in the early days after hatching – but this is only temporary, their first set of feathers tends to emerge within the first few days of life.

Are birds born with feathers?

Birds are not always born with feathers, and their appearance often changes rapidly during the first weeks and months of life.

Birds that are born mostly featherless and immature are called precocious birds. They may have some down, but no feathers will be visible until a few days later. The first needle-like feathers develop under the down of the wings, and these needle-like feathers gradually open into the first flight feathers.

In contrast, precocious birds are fairly well developed at birth, covered in dense down. Precocious species such as chickens, ducks, and geese are born with feathers, and while they can walk, run, and sometimes swim shortly after hatching, it often takes six weeks or more before their feathers develop enough to support flight.

Most songbird chicks hatch late. It usually takes a few days for their feathers to start developing (chaffinches pictured)

This young Sandhill Crane chick is an example of a precocious chick

How do birds care for their feathers?

Birds spend several hours a day preening, grooming themselves with their beaks, preening their feathers for flight and insulation. Birds can maximize their health by making sure their plumage is in top condition.

Oil-secreting birds have urethral glands located at the base of their tails. This oil helps to repel water and spreads to the different feathers through the bird’s beak and, in some cases, the feet.

Dust bathing is another grooming technique used by birds as a way to keep their feathers in top condition. While it might seem counterproductive to fly around in the dust, the dust actually absorbs excess oil, which then comes off more easily as oily dust. Dust can also help get rid of any lice or dry skin.

Bathing with water is another way birds maintain their feathers, not only to keep them clean but also to repair any damage to the keratin in the feather shafts and structure. Studies have shown that after soaking damaged feathers in water, any deformed fibers snap back and return to their original shape.

blow and preen its feathers

What happens when a bird loses its feathers?

Molting is a natural part of a bird’s life cycle, shedding frayed feathers and replacing them with brand new ones. This molt occurs annually for some species, but more frequently in others. Feathers are made of keratin, which wears away from normal flight or gets damaged from contact with trees, shrubs or even the ground.

Gradually, each feather is replaced, and when this occurs, the bird often has a noticeably worn, mottled appearance as new, vibrant feathers grow into the spaces next to the frayed, faded feathers as they shed middle. Molting can take a while, especially as new flight feathers grow in, which can mean the bird is unable to fly for a short period of time.

blue jay is molting

Why do some birds have colorful feathers?

During breeding season, male birds of some species rely on their brightly colored plumage to attract attention and successfully attract a mate. Later in the season, once a pair has bonded and raised a brood, it is not uncommon for males, especially certain species of ducks, to migrate to molting grounds, where they lose their brightly colored plumage and gain a lighter set. Dark feathers until the time is right for them to breed again the following year.

Another possible benefit of brightly colored plumage is the ability to scare off predators.A good example is the male peacock, which shows his full

A striking fire-throated hummingbird

How many feathers does a bird have?

The number of feathers in birds varies from species to species.

Hummingbirds are considered to have the fewest feathers of any bird, with a typical adult bird having around 1,000. At the other end of the scale are the tundra swans, which have over 25,000 feathers. Penguins have the densest feather cover, with as many as 15 feathers per square centimeter (100 per square inch), and an emperor penguin has been estimated to have 80,000 feathers.