![]() These are (as described by Clark and Wheeler in Hawks of North America): Juvenile, White-belly I, White-belly II, and Adult transition plumages. Prior to reaching sexual maturity at about age 5, we need to think of molts in terms of different plumages: young eagles go through four different plumages until they reach their sexually mature, adult plumage, which would be the fifth plumage type. The molting process is still not precisely understood. At this point, it is no longer called a “blood feather.” The feather comes out wrapped in a thin shaft of tissue, which will eventually split, which allows to unfurl and grow to its full size.Įagles go through a molting experience with their feathers. As it grows longer, the blood supply is concentrated in only the base of the shaft. It has a blood supply flowing through it, and if it is damaged, a bird can bleed heavily. The skin surrounds and grows over the shaft.Ī pin feather, sometimes called a “blood feather,” is a feather that is developing on a bird. The skin tightly grips the feather cone at the follicle and tiny bunches of “feather” muscles in the skin at this site and between follicles holds the feathers and causes their movement. Feathers grow out of skin follicles, just as human hair does. The feathers of a bird are superbly crafted to form its aerodynamic shape and protect it from the challenges of water and weather.įeathers, like the scales on the feet, or the claws or the horny sheath of the bill are keratinous outgrowths of the skin, similar to our nails. To see examples of the feathers, click here.
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