types of bird feathers chart
Bird feathers are amazingly complex. Each feather is made from the protein Keratin. While keratin also makes up snake and lizard scales, it is a slightly different compound in birds. The three main types of feathers are the filoplumes (sensory feathers), the contour feathers, and the down feathers (insulation). One of the reasons bird feathers are so complex is that each feather is made up of many different parts. The feather is similar in many ways to a palm frond.