ASU-Ask A Biologist - Bird Feathers

Words to know before you read

Illegal - doing something that is against a law. Opposite of legal.
Migratory - moving from place to place. Birds often migrate to avoid cold and hot temperatures. Some travel thousands of miles each year when migrating.

Permit - a formal document that gives a person and or group permission to do something.
Treaty - a formal document that often is linked to a law.

Feathers Up-close

There is nothing like seeing a feather up close. To help you do this we borrowed some feathers from some or our scientists and researchers and took pictures with a special scanner and microscope so you can get a close look at them. Click on any of the feathers in the gallery below and then zoom in and explore.


	Great Argus Pheasant, Argusianus argus, Wing feather [left]
	Temminck's Tragopan Pheasant Tragopan temminckii Body feather [right]

	Scarlet Macaw Ara macao Body feather [left]
	Lady Amherst Pheasant Chrysolophus amherstiae Neck feather [right]

	Amazon Parrot Unknown species Tail feather [left]
	Asian Jay Garrulus glandarius Wing feather [right]

	Golden Pheasant Chrysolophus pictus Neck feather [left]
	Wood Duck Aix sponsa Body (side) feather [right]

	Blue & Gold Macaw Ara ararauna Wing feather top view [left]
	Blue & Gold Macaw Ara ararauna Wing feather bottom view [right]

	Blue & Gold Macaw Ara ararauna Wing feather magnified top view [left]
	Blue & Gold Macaw Ara ararauna Wing feather magnified bottom view [right]

These feathers were collected by scientists and other researchers that have been granted a permit by the government to collect feathers. In case you did not know, in the United States it is illegal to collect feathers from most birds without a permit. So don't start pulling feathers off every bird you see. You can't even keep a feather you found on the ground. In case you would like to know about the law called, "The Migratory Bird Treaty Act," try out this link.

Main Page