Definition

1. Noun:
   • A feather covering the body of a bird: A "contour feather" is one of the feathers that form the outer layer of a bird's plumage, covering its body and wings. These feathers give the bird its streamlined shape and are crucial for flight, insulation, and waterproofing.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The bird preened its contour feathers to keep them clean and aligned.
  • Ornithologists study the structure of contour feathers to understand avian aerodynamics.
  • The bright colors of a peacock's contour feathers are used in courtship displays.

Advanced Usage

• In scientific description: The term is often used in ornithology and biology to distinguish these feathers from other types like down feathers or filoplumes.
  • The study focused on the barbule microstructure of the contour feather.

Variants and Related Words

• Feather (n): The general term for the light, flat growths that form a bird's plumage.
• Plumage (n): The entire covering of feathers on a bird.
• Down feather (n): A soft, fluffy feather located beneath the contour feathers, providing insulation.
• Flight feather (n): A specialized type of large contour feather on the wings (remiges) and tail (rectrices) essential for flight.

Synonyms

• Body feather: A less technical synonym for a contour feather.
• Covert (n): Specifically refers to the smaller contour feathers that cover the bases of the flight feathers on the wings and tail.

Related Phrases

• Contour plumage: Refers to the complete set of contour feathers on a bird.
  • The bird's contour plumage was molted in the autumn.

Related Idioms

Noun

1. feathers covering the body of an adult bird and determining its shape