All birds have feathers. Some birds, such as swans, have ivory-white ones. Others, such as crows, have jet-black ones. Parrots have rainbow-colored feathers, and peacocks have patterned ones. Interior designers, jewelers, and arts and crafts enthusiasts utilize feathers to produce aesthetically pleasing works. Check out this list of three different types of feathers.

1. Contour

Contour feathers have an impact on a bird’s ability to fly. They form the outline of a bird’s body, creating an aerodynamic shape that renders it able to fly. These feathers are highly specialized. They can be found on the wing and tail areas of a bird. Some contour feathers have hollow shafts, long barbs, interlocking barbs, and vanes while others have rigid shafts and inferior umbilicuses.

2. Filopume

Filoplumes are often regarded as a bird’s sensory feathers. They provide the animal with information about wind direction and air pressure so that it can fly effectively and efficiently. These feathers have a hairlike structure, and they stick out like hair strands. There is usually a thin rachis and a few barbs located at the very top of the rachis. Without these feathers, a bird would not be able to maintain flight. Individuals should invest in turkey vulture feathers if they want filoplumes that are more than one inch long.

3. Down

Many pheasant feathers available for sale are, in fact, down feathers. The main purpose of down feathers is to provide insulation. Down feathers can be found underneath a bird’s contour feathers. They can trap cold winds and cool breezes so that a bird can stay warm. These feathers are known for being very loose and fluffy because they consist of a single calamus and long flexible barbs.

Feathers are one of the most appealing aspects of a bird. It is no surprise that many utilize them to create beautiful works of art.