I have always wondered about the lone feather under each wing of my Amazon. When his wings are extended there is one feather sticking straight out under each wing but not inline with the others. Just wondering its purpose. Landing flap? Wing stabilizer? A bird equivalent of arm pit hair?
"arm pit" feather?
- Thread starter mgarvie
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I can give you my guess.
Best guess is it senses wind flow and based on what it "reads" the bird can adjust the shape of his/her wing for the proper amount of lift he/she needs.
If this is the feather you are talking about. The one I am thinking of is at the elbow of the wing and the leading edge but under the bottom side of the wing. It kind of sticks out instead of conforming to the curve of the wing.
Best guess is it senses wind flow and based on what it "reads" the bird can adjust the shape of his/her wing for the proper amount of lift he/she needs.
If this is the feather you are talking about. The one I am thinking of is at the elbow of the wing and the leading edge but under the bottom side of the wing. It kind of sticks out instead of conforming to the curve of the wing.
Texsize nailed this one!
That, plus several other sensors (hairs and feathers) combined to provide knowledge as to air pressure in different areas, as stated by Texsize, and defines the shape of the Tail and Wing feathers as part of the next stroke.
That, plus several other sensors (hairs and feathers) combined to provide knowledge as to air pressure in different areas, as stated by Texsize, and defines the shape of the Tail and Wing feathers as part of the next stroke.
- Thread Starter
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Makes sense. At first I thought it was just some rogue feather he just grew since he's been bald for the last few years. Then I noticed another under his other wing. Every time he spread his wings I would think he had some "feathery pits".
Thanks for the info.
Thanks for the info.
PickleMeDickles
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- May 17, 2015
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- SassyByrd (DYH Amazon) JoJo (GCC) Betty (GCC) DEARLY LOVED fids lost to “Teflon Disaster� 12/17 RIP Pickles (GC),RIP Winston (Sun), RIP Lady PLEASE TAKE 5 MINUTES &TOSS OUT ALL YOUR TEFLON NOW!
I learn the craziest most interesting cr*p here. I hope someday I'm on Jeopardy and I am asked about birdy armpit hair!
Hmmm, Jeopardy...
In fact the hair is on the body and sits under the body feathers. As air pressure increases or decreases in different zones, that defines airflow and direction.
