Thus, the vane is loose and fluffy. Functions of feathers. Feathers enable a bird to fly and help it maintain a constant body temperature. Feathers also may provide coloring that helps the bird hide from its enemies or attract a mate. Although feathers are remarkably durable, they gradually wear out.
Birds shed their feathers and grow a new set at least once a year.
This process is called molting. How people use feathers. People have used feathers for a variety of purposes. For hundreds of years, American Indians used feathers to make arrows and headdresses. Until the mid-1800's, when pens with steel points became popular, most people wrote with quill pens.