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Feather
Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics
Images, Videos & Interactives
Illustration of a bird feather highlighting its main parts: the central shaft (rachis), quill at the base, and barbs branching from the shaft. Insets show close-ups of barbs with interlocking barbules and hooks.
Learn about the feathered dinosaurs of the Middle Jurassic Epoch
feather types feather cape The origins of birds. Hawaiian royal cloak made of netting into which feathers are knotted. basic body feather tracts on a generalized songbird Illustration of Caudipteryx, an extinct feathered dinosaur, showing a small, birdlike creature with a beaked face, feathered body, short arms with wing-like feathers, and a fan of tail feathers. development of a down feather
Did Dinosaurs Really Have Feathers?
Quizzes
Dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius). Animals, mammals.
Ultimate Animals Quiz
pigeon. pigeon and dove. member of the order Columbiformes, family Columbidae
Ultimate Bird Trivia Quiz

Feather: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

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  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

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Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Article title updated for style. Nov 12, 2026
Added interactive. Aug 21, 2024
Media revised. Apr 16, 2024
Add new Web site: eXtension - Anatomy of a Feather. Jan 30, 2019
Video added. Aug 31, 2015
Image of featherwork cape added. Apr 05, 2012
Added diagram of the parts of a feather. Apr 28, 2010
Added new Web site: How Stuff Works - Animals - Feather. Jun 01, 2008
Media added. Oct 23, 2007
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
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