The birdie, or often called the shuttlecock, has a very interesting design. While many outdoor sports utilize a simple ball- the shuttlecock has a rounded tip that has a cone running off of the back of it. When this game originated, the tip was usually made from cork that has a leather coating, and the cone on the back was constructed from feathers- usually goose or rooster. Today, the shuttlecock that comes in most games doesn’t really resemble the original design. It is typically made from a solid piece of plastic. Some of the higher end designs still use a cork as a base for the tip, but none use leather or feathers anymore.