A bird’s feathers grow from the epidermis of the bird’s skin and can be divided into ‘semiplumes’, ‘filoplume’, ‘bristle’ and ‘powder feathers’. Given their impeccable daily routine, birds maintain their feathers by preening, dust bathing and even bathing in the water. When birds preen themselves with their beaks, they pick up oil by rubbing the preen gland near tails. They rub the oil over their feathers, which enable feathers to resist water absorption due to the oil coating and shed the moisture away easily. Birds also clean to remove dirt and parasites and arrange their barbs.
Why are a bird’s feathers water-insulated and waterproof?
