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lost property
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: Sue Rickhuss (snaphappy)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 158 W: 21 N: 232]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif) (1928) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2007-05-21 |
| Categories: Birds |
| Camera: Olympus C-5050z |
| Exposure: f/4, 1/400 seconds |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2007-05-29 9:54 |
| Viewed: 557 |
| Points: 4 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
found on a walk near an owl box so i presume it is more likely to be that of the tawny owl. had to capture the beautiful markings even if just for reference. the difference in these feathers are the softness and thickness.
Birds have up to five feather types:
1. Contour feathers cover the body, wing (remiges) and tail (rectrices).
2. Down feathers - these soft and fluffy feathers trap air and create a layer of insulation next to the bird's body.
3. Semiplumes function to fill in between contour and down feathers.
4. Bristles are small feathers with a stiff shaft and barbs only on the base, or often not at all. Bristles occur most commonly around the base of the bill, around the eyes, and as eyelashes.
5. Filoplumes are hairlike feathers that consist of a very fine shaft with a few short barbs at the end. They are typically covered by other feathers, and may function as pressure and vibration receptors - they sense the location of other feathers so they can be adjusted properly.
An Owl has very few down feathers, but has downy barbules on the parts of the contour feathers closest to the skin.
Many of the Owl's feathers are specially designed - around the face there are the stiff facial disc feathers or ruff, crown feathers, ear-flap feathers and also bristles around the bill.
The feet and bill have Filoplumes that work somewhat like feelers, to help the Owl react to things they touch, such as prey.
The most unique adaptation of Owl feathers is the comb-like or fimbriate (fringe-like) leading edge of the primary wing feathers referred to as "flutings" or "fimbriae". With a normal bird in flight, air rushes over the surface of the wing, creating turbulence, which makes a gushing noise. With an Owl's wing, the comb-like feather edge breaks down the turbulence into little groups called micro-turbulences. This effectively muffles the sound of the air rushing over the wing surface and allows the Owl to fly silently. There is also an alternate theory that the flutings actually shift the sound energy created by the wingbeats to a higher frequency spectrum, where most creatures (including prey and humans) cannot hear.
Silent flight gives Owls the ability to capture prey by stealth, and also allows the Owl to use its hearing. In general, an Owl's cryptic colours and pattern allow it to blend in with its surroundings, hiding it from potential danger. This is especially important for the nocturnal owls, as they need to remain hidden when roosting in the daytime. |
trinko, Nephrotome2 has marked this note useful
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![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 593 W: 79 N: 323]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
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