aftershaft

anatomy

Also known as: afterfeather

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

feather types Feather types and their distribution on a typical perching bird.

The aftershaft is an accessory plume that grows from the posterior side of a bird's feather stem. This feature is common in many bird species. In some bird orders, like the Gruiformes, the presence of an aftershaft is a notable characteristic. The aftershaft can appear as a smaller, secondary feather emerging from the base of the main feather.1234

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Feathers
…with a complex branch, the aftershaft, or afterfeather, that arises at the base of the vane. The aftershaft has the appearance of a second, smaller feather, growing from the base of the first. Down feathers have loose-webbed barbs, all rising from the tip of a very short shaft. Their function…
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…with a complex branch, the aftershaft, or afterfeather, that arises at the base of the vane. The aftershaft has the appearance of a second, smaller feather, growing from the base of the first. Down feathers have loose-webbed barbs, all rising from the tip of a very short shaft. Their function…
Read More