Powder down

Powder down

Powder down is a special type of down feathers. They occur in a few groups of apparently unrelated birds and thus are probably evolutionary homoplasies. These down feathers differ from the usual down as they are exceptionally fine and produce a dust between the frons. The bird takes this dust from its powder down feathers and coats all its external feathers with the dust. This dust mainly provides the bird with some waterproofing for the main flight feathers so it can still fly in the rain. It also conditions the feathers and keeps the barbs of the flight feathers interlocked to provide good lift. It may also be useful in suffocating feather lice and other ectoparasites by clogging their tracheae.

Powder down is found in birds such as herons or the Kagu. Larger species of white cockatoos (such as Sulphur-crested Cockatoo) also have powder down, located on their flanks (sides of the body).

Powder down feathers are probably seen most easily in the cockatiel. In this popular cage bird, they are located at the lower back beneath the outer tail feathers' bases. When used up, they are pulled out by the bird allowing new ones to grow. They are like a fluffy ball and when rubbed between the fingers the powder from the down will cover the fingertips.

Birds with powder down usually have a reduced uropygial gland, but not all birds with vestigial or missing uropygial glands possess powder down.

External links

* [http://www.britannica.com/eb/topic-473187/powder-down Encyclopedia Brittanica online "powder down (feather)"]


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  • Powder down — Powder Pow der, n. [OE. poudre, pouldre, F. poudre, OF. also poldre, puldre, L. pulvis, pulveris: cf. pollen fine flour, mill dust, E. pollen. Cf. {Polverine}, {Pulverize}.] 1. The fine particles to which any dry substance is reduced by pounding …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • powder down — noun : modified down feathers in some birds (as herons, parrots, tinamous, frogmouths) that grow continuously and disintegrate at the ends * * * modified down feathers that continually crumble at the tips, producing a fine powder that forms a… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Powder-down feather — Powder Pow der, n. [OE. poudre, pouldre, F. poudre, OF. also poldre, puldre, L. pulvis, pulveris: cf. pollen fine flour, mill dust, E. pollen. Cf. {Polverine}, {Pulverize}.] 1. The fine particles to which any dry substance is reduced by pounding …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Powder-down patch — Powder Pow der, n. [OE. poudre, pouldre, F. poudre, OF. also poldre, puldre, L. pulvis, pulveris: cf. pollen fine flour, mill dust, E. pollen. Cf. {Polverine}, {Pulverize}.] 1. The fine particles to which any dry substance is reduced by pounding …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • powder down — modified down feathers that continually crumble at the tips, producing a fine powder that forms a bloom on the plumage of certain birds, as pigeons and herons. * * * …   Universalium

  • powder-down — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Down feather — The down of birds is a layer of fine feathers found under the tougher exterior feathers. Very young birds are clad only in down. Powder down is a specialized type of down found only in a few groups of birds. Down is a fine thermal insulator and… …   Wikipedia

  • Powder — Pow der, n. [OE. poudre, pouldre, F. poudre, OF. also poldre, puldre, L. pulvis, pulveris: cf. pollen fine flour, mill dust, E. pollen. Cf. {Polverine}, {Pulverize}.] 1. The fine particles to which any dry substance is reduced by pounding,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Powder hose — Powder Pow der, n. [OE. poudre, pouldre, F. poudre, OF. also poldre, puldre, L. pulvis, pulveris: cf. pollen fine flour, mill dust, E. pollen. Cf. {Polverine}, {Pulverize}.] 1. The fine particles to which any dry substance is reduced by pounding …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Powder hoy — Powder Pow der, n. [OE. poudre, pouldre, F. poudre, OF. also poldre, puldre, L. pulvis, pulveris: cf. pollen fine flour, mill dust, E. pollen. Cf. {Polverine}, {Pulverize}.] 1. The fine particles to which any dry substance is reduced by pounding …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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