preen gland
Definition
Noun: * A specialized gland in birds: The preen gland is an oil-secreting gland located at the base of the tail in most bird species. Birds use their beaks to spread the oil from this gland over their feathers during preening to condition and waterproof them.
Usage
The term "preen gland" is used specifically in ornithology (the study of birds) and biology to describe this anatomical feature. * The health of a bird's plumage depends on the proper function of its preen gland. * Ornithologists studied the effect of pollutants on the preen gland's secretions.
Advanced Usage
- The preen gland is also known scientifically as the uropygial gland. This is the more formal, technical term used in academic and scientific writing.
- The paper discussed the antimicrobial properties of the secretions from the uropygial gland.
Variants and Related Words
- Uropygial Gland (noun): The formal, scientific synonym for the preen gland.
- Preen (verb): The action of a bird using its beak to arrange, clean, and oil its feathers, which involves the secretion from the preen gland.
- The duck spent an hour preening its feathers after swimming.
Synonyms
- Uropygial gland
Related Terms and Concepts
- Preening: The behavioral activity that utilizes the gland's secretion.
- Plumage: The bird's feathers, which are maintained by the oil from the gland.
- Waterproofing: One of the key functions of the gland's secretion.
Noun
-
oil-secreting gland situated at the base of the tail in most birds
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