On top of the insulating feathers lie the contour feathers.
Contour feathers make up most of the feathers we see on a bird.
Click on any of the contour feathers to learn more.
Contour feathers consist of a central rachis and vanes made up of individual, yet securely interconnected, strands called barbs.
They often have downy, insulating fibers at the base.
Click on the contour feather to see a close up view.
When magnified, the barbs on all contour feathers look like tiny feathers themselves.
Click on the barbs to zoom in even further.
The barbs have tiny "barbules"—more than a million per feather—that latch on to neighboring barbules with tiny hooks. This makes the feather flexible and strong.