Skip to main content

14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities


What are the animals with feathers?

When you think of feathers, what animals come to your head? You probably remember species such as duck, chicken, hummingbird or ruisenor.Now, do birds only have feathers? The answer to this is yes .Only birds have feathers, this is a feature that allows a species to be included in the group of birds.
However, it has been shown that, in the past, some dinosaur species also developed feathers and from them the birds we know descend.Today there is still no definitive conclusion about what caused the change from scales to feathers (thinking about crocodiles, other prehistoric creatures), the different theories plan that it could be due to a process evolutionary to allow the flight of those species of dinosaurs that moved over the treetops and branches through jumps, while others point to thermal protection or attraction mechanisms during the mating season.
Despite this, if there is evidence as they point to the dinosaurs belonging to the group of theopods , such as the famous velociraptor, among the primitive ancestors of modern birds.This conclusion was established in 1996, at which was discovered a fossil of Sinosauropteryx that presents thin filaments covering its body.The feathers of this specimen would have evolved from the scales.Also, in 2009 a fossil of was discovered Tianyulog , species of the Cretaceous, with samples of sows in the loin.


What are the feathers for?

The feathers are important elements when flying, but this is not the only function that they fulfill.What are the feathers for? Next, we detail it to you.
A pen is formed of keratin and is an epidermal structure, that is, it is part of the skin.Keratin is the protein responsible not only for shaping the feathers, but also the ones, the hair and the scales.Like these, the pen is "dead", that is, it is not attached to the body by blood vessels.they occur in the wake of the feather cut or some occur when an inexperienced person makes the cut at the level of the nerve.
The set of feathers is called plumage and, although they play an important role when flying, Not all birds fly, so that is not the only function they fulfill.These are other of them:
  • Provide propulsion and speed during the flight (primary feathers).
  • Retain air during the flight so that the bird can stay (secondary feathers).
  • Eliminate or reduce turbulence during the flight (rigid feathers oalula).
  • Direct the flight (helms or tail feathers).
  • Provide dynamism and support (cover feathers).
  • Protect during the different seasons and times of life (there is a winter plumage, more abundant and less striking, and a bridal, colorful and striking plumage, used for the reproductive period).
  • Distinguish between males and females (occurs in those species where there is sexual dimorphism , that is, physical characteristics vary between males and females).
  • They allow camouflage (the plumage of some species simulates the colors found in their habitat).
  • Repel predators (the bright color of some plumages is a method of defense, it indicates that the species could be dangerous).
Now that you know what the feathers are for, we talk to you about some animals with feathers and curiosities about e llos.


List of animals with feathers

You know what are the animals with feathers, that is, birds, so we present several curiosities about some of them. Examples of animals with feathers :
  • Cuco
  • Bee hummingbird
  • Mandarin duck
  • Flamingo
  • Picozapato
  • Ave lira superb
  • Tucan
  • Peacock


1.Cuco

The common cuckoo ( Cuculus canorus ) is a bird that can be found in Asia, Europe and Africa.The females of this species practice what is called the parasitism of put , a curious way to raise the chicks: taking into account the size and color of other birds, the female looks for the nest of another species to leave her own without it being noticeable.To do so, she gets rid of one of the eggs of the bird she parasites to leave her own.The objective of this is that, when hatching, the cuckoo baby throws the rest of the eggs and only she is fed.
14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities


2.Colibri bee

The bee hummingbird ( Mellisuga helenae ) is a species that lives in Cuba and is the smallest bird in the world .It is characterized by presenting a red and blue plumage in males, while females have green and bluish tones.This hummingbird only reaches 5 centimeters in adulthood.
If you want to know all the types of hummingbirds that exist, do not miss this article.
14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities


3 mandarin duck

Without a doubt, one of the most exotic feathered animals, the mandarin duck ( Aix galericulata ) is a bird native to China, Siberia and Japan, but now it is also possible to find it in Europe.The particularity of the species resides in a marked sexual dimorphism : the females have a brown or brown plumage with some creamy or white areas, while the male exhibits an unprecedented and unique combination of colors, mixing between cream, bright green, blue, coral, purple, black and reddish brown.
14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities


4.Flamenco

Under the name of flamingo several species of the genus Phoenicopterus are nominated characterized by their long legs, long and stylized neck and their pink plumage .However, did you know that this color of the feathers is a product of food? At birth, the flamingos are white, but their diet is based on the consumption of seedlings and crustaceans, which contain large amounts of carotenoids, an organic pigment that provides the characteristic color of their plumage.
To more details, do not miss this article: "Why are flamingos pink?".
14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities


5.Picozapato

The picozapato ( Balaeniceps rex ) is one of the most curious feathered animals that exist, as it is a species of the pelicans of the order that attracts attention for its peculiar appearance .It has a huge beak whose shape resembles a shoe, a fact that originated its funny name.Little is known about its habits or its population, since it rarely leaves the African blinds where it lives.


6 Superb lyre bird

The superb lyre bird ( Menura novaehollandiae ) is a bird native to Australia.It is a singing species that stands out above others of this type because it is capable to imitate sounds as incredible as the click of a camera shutter or the noise made by a chainsaw.It is also curious for its peculiar appearance, especially that of males, which have a very striking tail due to the variety of its plumage.
If you want to know more curious Australian animals, do not miss this article.


7.Tucan

Under the name of tucan, the birds of the family Ramphastidae are included, birds that inhabit a wide territory, which goes from Mexico to Argentina.Beyond the beautiful colors that characterize them, they demonstrate a curious behavior during the mating ritual: both males and females tend to take or throw food and branches.
14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities


8 peacock

The peacock ( Pavo cristatus ) is a bird that can be found in Asia and Europe.Its most unique feature is the wonderful and colorful plumage that males present, characterized by its blue and green colors.However, there is an even more impressive version, the white peacock .This plumage is the product of a recessive gene and only appears after very well selected crosses.
14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities


Animals with feathers that do not fly

Although feathers are indispensable elements during the flight, there are some animals with feathers that do not fly, they are the non-flying birds .These are some of the most curious and striking :
  • Kakapo
  • Penguin
  • Ostrich
  • Kiwi
  • Cassowary
  • Cormoran mancon


1.Kakapo

The kakapo ( Strigops habroptila ) is a species of non-flying parrot endemic to New Zealand.It is a nocturnal bird that measures 60 centimeters and It weighs about 4 kilos.It has a green moss and black plumage.
There are currently less than 200 live specimens, so IUCN has considered the species in critical danger of extinction Its main threat is the introduction of non-native invasive species into its habitat.Due to its inability to fly, they are easier to catch than other animals.


2.Pinguino

Under the name of penguins, several species of the genus Sphenisciforme are included.They live in the Galapagos Islands and much of the northern hemisphere.Although they cannot fly, the penguins are good swimmers and even use their wings to propel themselves out of the water when they flee predators.
14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities


3.Ostrich

The ostrich ( Struthio camelus ) is the largest and heaviest bird in the world , since it reaches 180 kilos.However, this does not represent a problem for the species, because it is capable of reaching 90 km/hour running in the savannas of Africa.This way, this animal with feathers enjoys two great records, since in addition to being the largest bird, it is the bird faster on the ground .If you want to meet the fastest bird in flight, check out this article: "What is the fastest bird in the world?".
14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities


4.Kiwi

The kiwi, belonging to the genus Apteryx, is a bird of similar size to a chicken that is found in New Zealand.It is an animal with feathers omnivorous of nocturnal habits .Although it does not fly, it has very small wings.As a curious fact, we can say that the species is the official animal of New Zealand.
14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities


5.Casuary

This is a genus of birds that includes three species that inhabit Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia.The cassowals have a curious appearance : long legs, somewhat oval body full of feathers and long neck.Also, they usually measure about 2 meters and weigh about 40 kg.
14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities


6.Cormoran mancon

And we finalize the list of animals with feathers that do not fly with the cormoran mancon ( Phalacrocorax harrisi ), endemic bird of the Galapagos Islands.It is characterized by a curious system of reproduction , the polyandro mating , which means that a female reproduces with several males, and by its small wings.
Do you know other species of animals with curious feathers that you would like share? Leave your comment!
14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities
If you wish read more articles similar to Animals with feathers-List with names and curiosities , we recommend you enter our section of Curiosities of the animal world.
Bibliography
  • Red List IUCN. Kakapo .Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22685245/129751169
  • National Geographic. The curious evolution of the feathers .Dis available at: https://www.ngenespanol.com/fotografia/larga-curiosa-y-extravagante-evolucion-plumas/
  • Digital Library. III.Feathers and plumage .Available in: http://bibliotecadigital.ilce.edu.mx/sites/ciencia/volumen3/ciencia3/138/htm/sec_8.htm

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Gray parrot or red-tailed yaco: characteristics

Origin of the yaco parrot The gray parrot is found naturally in almost all of Africa, being able to spot specimens in different countries, such as Kenya or Nigeria, but not all gray parrots are the same, because depending on the region it will be more frequent to see one or the other of the three subspecies of gray parrot that exist: the nominal one, which is the most frequent at the same time as the most appreciated as a company animal, that of vinegar tail and that of the islands of S.Tome and Principe. The habitat of the yaco is made up of mangroves to lush equatorial forests, including also areas adjacent to the courses of the rivers and cenagas.Currently, due to the destruction of many of these habitats, the red-tailed yaco parrot is within the threatened species list . There are no documents that date the existence of the red-tailed yaco parrot from a concrete moment in history, although it is estimated that already existed more than 4000 years ago ong>, being a kin

History of the Chinese lucky cat - Maneki Neko

Surely we have all seen the Maneki Neko , literally translated as the lucky cat, it is not necessary to go to its origins in China or Japan to see it, right here, in many oriental establishments we can see them located near the local cash register.Only that, many are also adopting it for the decoration of their own homes. Well, in this article of Animals and Pets Online we will offer you more information about the story of the lucky Chinese cat, Maneki Neko What should you know to keep in mind its meaning and the purpose of its possession.Does its leg move incessantly by some demonic covenant or carries batteries? What does it mean to be golden? Keep reading to find out. What is its origin, Chinese or Japanese? This is a point that supposes a strong dispute between both traditions, the Chinese and the Japanese, which dispute the authorship of their origin.However, we can affirm that although the Chinese could also justify that it comes from its ancestral culture and we know i

Why does my dog ​​have 5 fingers on the hind legs?

Have you ever noticed how many fingers Do you have a dog in the front and back legs? You may have never noticed exactly, but dogs have 5 fingers on the front legs and 4 on the hind legs. However, sometimes we can see dogs that have 5 fingers on the hind legs , some even 6 and are called "ram".Do not be alarmed if this is your case, we will share with you all the necessary information so that you know why this characteristic is due and that you should (or don't). Keep reading this Animals and Pets Online article and discover why my dog ​​has 5 fingers on the hind legs . Why do some dogs have spurs? The spur or "toe" on the hind legs of dogs is mainly due to genetics of a series of breeds concrete , although it can manifest itself in practically any dog.This characteristic does not represent any health problem and is not a disorder or malformation. It is believed that this claw that we can observe in the paws Rear could serve to give more support

Why is the AJOLOTE in danger of extinction?

The axolotl ( Ambystoma mexicanum ) is a kind of amphibian that lives in several regions of Mexico , especially in the Xochimilco canal system, characterized by its ability to regenerate certain parts of the body and its peculiar appearance.The species can live in captivity for 30 years, as long as it receives the indicated care. Despite being one of the animals of great influence in Mexican culture, the species is critically endangered.In the following article of Animals and Pets Online, we will tell you the reasons that explain why the axolotl is in danger of extinction and we will show you possible solutions to improve its conservation status. Axolotl characteristics The axolotl is known as "the walking fish".It is a vertebrate that reaches 23 centimeters long , has a broad head and rounded eyes , small and without eyelids.The skin tone varies, most of the time the specimens have dark brown tones with a black back and a lighter belly, in addition to having da

Why adopt a stray dog?

There are millions of abandoned dogs on the streets around the world, and decrease the The number seems to be very complicated, especially because of the easy reproduction of the canines and the irresponsibility of many people. In Animals and Pets Online we know that this is a serious problem that must be solved, so we want to contribute to create awareness about animal abandonment.If you've ever wondered why adopt a stray dog, here are 10 reasons to do it . 1.You learn responsibility Rescuing a stray dog ​​or adopting it in a shelter is a decision that should not be taken lightly, and that commits you to the rest of the animal's life .that is why adoption will help you to be more responsible, by having another living being in your care that is completely up to you . 2.Save two lives Millions of dogs are slaughtered in shelters due to overpopulation, while those who remain on the streets lead a life of fear, hunger, cold and physical abuse.Look at them to see the sa

Mammals in danger of extinction

At present there are numerous species both animal and plant that are at risk of disappearing.Human pressure on the natural habitats of animals causes serious consequences. The indiscriminate felling of forests, water pollution and farms, fragment the distribution areas of different species.We make their reproduction difficult isolating communities and diminishing their natural hunting. In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will talk about endangered mammals .Mammals are the animals that give birth to their young and they breastfeed them. Red list of endangered mammals The UINC, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, periodically elaborates the red list of endangered species.This list includes all the animal and plant species that are They are at risk of disappearing worldwide. With the data in this list we can observe the loss of biodiversity that occurs globally.Mammals are one of the groups that have the most endangered species.The hunting and destr

Belier rabbit care

When we refer to the belier rabbit we can see that it is a small rabbit, of long and fallen ears, a furry and friendly animal.But when we decide to adopt one we must pay attention to their particular needs . This rabbit is around 2.5 kilograms and It is a breed of delicate and calm rabbit but still has needs to exercise and socialize with people or other rabbits.To obtain information on the best care of your belier rabbit follow the advice of Animals and Pets Online although of course, who knows Your rabbit is better than anyone, it's you. Keep reading this article from Animals and Pets Online to know everything about Belier rabbit care and remember that all of this should be contrasted with what you observe in your particular rabbit, let's go there! A space for the Belier rabbit To start, if you have decided to adopt a belier rabbit, it is very important that you acquire a cage wide enough so that the rabbit can move freely and without distressing. Although it

Home remedies to remove my dog's ticks

If you prefer to run away from those antiparasitic solutions loaded with chemicals for fight ticks on your dog , or your new partner is a puppy that is not yet old enough to be able to apply more aggressive products, the natural remedies that we show you in Expert Expert can be of great help. In this article we provide you with the home remedies to remove the most effective ticks , made from 100% natural products and not harmful to dogs, however, to avoid the occurrence of allergic reactions to some of them, we always recommend going to the veterinarian to be the one who examines the dog and stipulates which is the best remedy for him.Keep reading and discover how to eliminate ticks in your dog through natural remedies that you can prepare at home. Have you identified the tick? Ticks are arachnoid ectoparasites, that is, parasites that live on the surface of another living being, which have a greater degree of activity from spring to autumn .shape, if we are among one of thes

Colicos in horses - Symptoms and treatment

The equine colic is the first cause of mortality in horses and many horse owners have to face it once since it is the most frequent disease of the adult horse.Colic syndrome is defined as a abdominal pain of varied origins . The horse is a hypersensitive animal and the external manifestations of the colic can be impressive.Some specificities of the horse can complicate the situation: a horse cannot vomit, so that the food that has reached the stomach is forced to follow its path in the digestive tract.In addition, certain parasites such as strongils cause a narrowing of the arteries of the digestive system, which can make the condition worse. Fortunately less than 10% of horses with colic require surgery.case colic syndrome is a of the most important equine pathologies for their severity and frequency, in this article of Animals and Pets Online we will tell you everything you need to know about the colic in horses . Symptoms of colic on the horse Colic or colic syndrome is