... transcripts in revealing the molecular basis of divergence in feather pigment synthesis during early-stage speciation in crows. Using a padlock probe assay combined with rolling circle amplification, we quantified cell-type-specific gene expression in the histological context of growing feather follicles...

... feathers of almost all birds. Using mechanistic criteria emerging from recent work on sonations, we sought to: (1) identify characteristics of rock pigeon flight feathers that might be adapted for sound production rather than flight, and (2) provide evidence that this morphology is necessary for in vivo...

...Thomas Bachmann; Jens Emmerlich; Werner Baumgartner; Jochen M. Schneider; Hermann Wagner SUMMARY Flight feathers of birds interact with the flow field during flight. They bend and twist under aerodynamic loads. Two parameters are mainly responsible for flexibility in feathers: the elastic modulus...

... understanding of flight ontogeny, we used a propeller (revolving wing) model to test how wing shape and feather structure influence aerodynamic performance during development in the precocial chukar partridge ( Alectoris chukar , 4 to >100 days post hatching). We spun wings in mid-downstroke posture...

...A. van Casteren; J. R. Codd; J. D. Gardiner; H. McGhie; A. R. Ennos SUMMARY Male common snipe ( Capella gallinago gallinago ) produce a ‘drumming’ sound with their outer tail feathers during their mating dives, but little is known about how this is achieved. We investigated the movements and sound...

...Matthew D. Shawkey; Geoffrey E. Hill SUMMARY Non-iridescent structural plumage color is typically produced by coherent scattering of light within a matrix of keratin and air (a `spongy layer') in feather barbs. It remains unclear what role, if any, the basal melanin layer underlying this spongy...

...Stéphanie M. Doucet; Matthew D. Shawkey; Geoffrey E. Hill; Robert Montgomerie SUMMARY Iridescence is produced by coherent scattering of light waves from alternating layers of materials of different refractive indices. In birds,iridescent colours are produced by feather barbules when light...

... 2004 thermoregulation swimming mallard Anas platyrhynchos down waterfowl metabolism feather Ducklings go to the water and swim while downy. This behavior is interesting because the available data indicate that down is much less resistant to wetting than contour feathers( Nye, 1964...

...Michael Butler; Amy S. Johnson SUMMARY Melanin has been associated with increased resistance to abrasion,decreased wear and lowered barb breakage in feathers. But, this association was inferred without considering barb position along the rachis as a potentially confounding variable. We examined...

...D. Osorio; A. D. Ham SUMMARY Bird plumage is coloured both by pigments and by spectrally selective interference in the light reflected from feather barbs. These barbs are composites of high- and low-refractive-index materials, and light is reflected at refractive index boundaries. The spatial...

... and shape, so such differences among species should affect energy costs. Because flow around the body is complicated by the roughness and vibration of feathers, feathers must be considered in evaluating the effects of size and shape on drag. We investigated the effects of size, shape and feathers...

...William R. Corning; Andrew A. Biewener ABSTRACT To evaluate the safety factor for flight feather shafts, in vivo strains were recorded during free flight from the dorsal surface of a variety of flight feathers of captive pigeons ( Columba livia ) using metal foil strain gauges. Strains recorded...

...Werner Müller; Giannino Patone ABSTRACT The flight feathers and their coverts of a European kestrel Falco tinnunculus have been tested for their air transmissivity. The transmissivity was measured in both directions, i.e. from ventral to dorsal and vice versa ; the mean difference between the two...

...A. Roland Ennos; John R. E. Hickson; Anna Roberts ABSTRACT The functional morphology of feather vanes was examined by combining morphological examination with mechanical tests. A geometrical model was derived which related the in-plane behaviour of the vane to the orientation of the barbs...