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Feather Biology

An interview with biologist Kevin McGraw. Dr. Biology and his co-host Brian Varela learn a lot about feathers and all the ways birds used them. After listening to this episode be sure to take a look at the companion article and cool gallery.

Podcast content summary and time log for Volume 35 of Ask-a-Biologist.

Biologist Kevin McGraw holding his pet "Budgie" (left) and
co-host Brian Varela (right)


Key words: SOLS, feathers, penguins, bats, flight, bones, color, dinosaurs.

Topic Time
Intro - 00:00
Why do birds have hallow bones? [Brian] 01:52
Why do some feathers have different colored sides? [Brian] 02:37
Things are not always colorful for reasons of site. [why are carrots orange?] 04:40
Why you should eat carrots. 05:06
Does weather have an affect on the color of feathers? [Brian] 05:48
Gloger's Rule 06:38
Description of feathers on a Golden Pheasant skin. 07:15
Shape and functions of feathers. [Dr. Biology] 08:43
Penguins - do they have feathers? [Brian] 10:52
Do the shapes of penguin feathers help them slide? [Brian] 12:08
Why are penguins black and white? 13:18
Is it a problem being black and white when you live on white snow and ice? 15:02
How many different functions do feathers have? [Dr. Biology] 16:13
What would happen if you moved an Arizona bird to New York? [Brian] 18:08
What is the longest feather ever measured? [Dr. Biology] 20:01
What is the smallest feather in the world? [Dr. Biology] 20:55
How did feathers evolve and from what? 21:39
Why do bats have skin instead of feathers? [Brian] 23:25
Do bats have hollow bones? [Dr. Biology] 24:53
Why don't bats fly in a straight line? [Brian] 25:19
Kevin - what are some of your favorite feather functions? [Dr. Biology] 26:50
Sign-off [Companion Feather-Biology Article] 28:13

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