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Small birds feathers

Small birds feathers are produced by the protein called keratin. Keratin is the same material that human nails consist of. Individual bird feathers have a backbone down the center of the feather called a quill.

Small birds feather colors ( colours )


Small birds feather colours ( colors )are designed to give heat insulation for the bird and to allow flight.The feathers can also act as an attraction for potential mates and protective camouflage.
The small bird may display a plumage of feathers in a fan formation like the peacock or cause the feather formation to shimmer. Water proofing of the birds feathers is required to provide insulation during wet weather, allowing the small bird to fly during rain.
The water proofing of birds feathers is achieved by the small bird preening itself using the preen glands. The preen glands contain an oily substance that are situated on the small birds body in an area that allows the bird to preen itself through all its feathers.

Feather shapes


Small bird feather shapes are designed to have an outer cover of top feathers and a under covering of down feathers. The shape and design of down feathers make them excellent insulation against cold and hot weather.
Down feathers allow a small bird to incubate their eggs. Without a soft insulating cover of down feathers incubating bird eggs would be a difficult procedure.

Small bird feather shapes


Contour feathers are the feathers that cover the outside of the body and can be vibrant in colours. Birds feathers Tail feathers or rudder feathers and wing feathers are called flight feathers. Colours that are contained in small bird feathers are produced by the small birds pigments. The colours of green feathers and violet colored feathers are produced by the reflection of light called the prism affect.
Shimmering colored feathers or iridescent coloured feathers are produced by light entering the feathers. The light interacts with the colored areas and membranes situated on the small birds body. Birds numbers may be in excess of 200,000 million at any one time throughout the world. The single most abundant species of wild bird comes from Africa.

Small birds feather colors


Small bird species that are closest to extinction and have coloured feathers that are distinctive are the Sudanese cliff swallow and Orange necked partridge. They are just a few of the small bird species with colored feathers or distinctive bird feathers and are in danger of being lost forever.

Feather shapes of small birds


Caged birds that are kept in aviaries and small birds in the wild will attempt to hide any weakness, sickness or injury from observation until incapacitation prevents it. The general appearance of the small bird and its feather arrangements are an early indicator to a bird in distress.
Some feather shapes and feather colours that may indicate an illness areas followed.

Feathers that display an abnormal growth or feather shape.
Small bird feathers that are dull in color or appearance.
Rough looking small bird feathers.
Poor preening or lack of feather preening.
A fluffed feather appearance.

Feathers


Feather plucking is an obvious indicator to ill health. Plucking of a birds feathers can be caused by tumors or cysts within the feathers or
A parasite or virus infection.
Deficiencies of vitamin A.
Fungal or bacterial infection of the feathers.
Chemicals that are used within the house such as cleaning sprays should not be used around caged birds. The over spray will settle on the small birds feathers and cause the bird to preen itself and pluck feathers destroying the shape of feathers and their appearance.

Open fire places, perfume sprays, mosquito sprays are all possible irritants for bird feathers.
Small birds that become ill should be kept warm and placed in a safe container that can be transported to the veterinarian. The container should have heating that is maintained to a comfortable warmth for the small bird. The birds immune system will be boosted by keeping it warm.

A suitable heater that can be used to safely obtain this temperature can be found at this web site. They have a large range of portable and small heaters that are suitable for the pet market.

Small bird feathers


Small bird feathers that are molting is natures way of replacing worn and damaged bird feathers. Moulting can occur in birds up to twice a year but a normal moulting is a yearly event. The moult of a small birds feathers is carried out in patterns and quantity that will not disrupt its camouflage feather colors that would make the bird vulnerable to predators. A full moult can take up to 9 months to complete.

Feather shapes


Small birds that are going through a feather moult and feather shape use a large amount of energy. Levels of energy needed to complete a moult can be as high as 30 percent of the birds normal metabolic rate. Small birds that are kept in an aviary should have an area that is quiet. The aviary should have no sharp surfaces that may damage a birds feathers and an area for egg laying.



Copyright 2001-2008 Small bird feathers and colours. Small bird feather shapes and colours ( colors ).

Bird feathers Feather shapes Feather colors colours.