There is a great diversity of species in the world, where multiple studies have concluded that about 8,7 million living beings inhabit the planet. Among this great diversity of species we can find those animals with feathers, which have existed throughout history. In this article we will provide all the information regarding them, so I invite you to continue reading and thus learn more about them.
Animals with Feathers
A large number of different species of living beings inhabit the planet, it is estimated that there are over 8 million species, with various characteristics. But only 15% of all living things in the world are known. Within this small group that we know, it is subdivided into several species. The animals that make up these subdivisions are distinguished by certain physical characteristics, these same qualities are what make them so extraordinary and unique.
Within this great diversity of species we find animals with feathers. This peculiar feature, feathers, have been around for eons of years. Many animals are those that have had feathers throughout the history of evolution, an example of this is the flying reptiles of prehistory. However, currently the animals that only have wings in their physical structure are birds. You will not observe any other animal except the birds with these feathers, the other species have evolved and have developed other characteristics for their survival.
What are the Animals with Feathers
When we ask about those animals that have this characteristic, we refer to those species of living beings that are going to have plumage, that is, that have feathers. This species will be able to be located within the group of vertebrate animals and when we talk about animals with feathers, we are talking specifically about birds, as we have already mentioned. This group of animals are the only ones that have plumage and that these types of animals can live in any habitat that is available to them.
This happens because it has two great characteristics that will allow it to adapt without any problem to any environment. The most important characteristics of these feathered animals or birds, is the same plumage and that they are characterized by being endotherms. As for the feathers and the modification that is found in the two anterior ends present in the wings, which will be a bit large and strong, they will determine its capacity and ability to fly. This will also depend on the species to which the bird belongs.
As we mentioned before, birds are animals of the endothermic type. By this we mean that these animals have the peculiarity of regulating the heat of their own body. In addition to keeping your body at a constant temperature, without any alteration. Even the feathers of these animals will help with thermoregulation. So feathered animals are extraordinary species, not only because of their fur, but also because they can regulate their temperature without the need for any external help.
Types of Pens and What They Are For
As indicated before, feathers are a peculiarity of birds which are defined by their ability to fly. But we must remember that these also play a fundamental role, this will depend on the type of plumage that these feathered animals have. An example of this is that the feathers will have a thermal insulation function, other functions that we can find is that it gives protection to the animal, gives color and shape to the birds, among other functions. There is a wide variety of types of pens and their functionality will depend on each one of them, and these are the following:
Of flight
This type of feathers will participate in the bird's ability to fly. These feathers can be located both on the tail and on the wings of birds. About the characteristics of this type of feathers we can talk about two very important ones and which are the most outstanding, we find that they have a very hard texture and have asymmetry.
Outline
Contour feathers will have a protective function, since they protect the bird from the rain. This type of feather can be located throughout the entire body of the bird, it is completely covered by them. These feathers are characterized by a soft texture, they provide color and shape the outline of the bird.
semi-feathers
The semi-feathers can be found located below the contour feathers. These feathers will have the function of insulation, that is, they will protect the bird from such sudden temperature changes. So they will protect it whether there are cold temperatures or from the sun's rays.
Marker
This type of feathers will resemble semi-feathers, since they will have thermal insulation as their function. Besides, its function is to allow those aquatic birds to float. These feathers can be found next to the bird's skin.
blade feathers
Filofeathers, like semi-feathers, can be located below the contour feathers. This type of feathers is very peculiar since they have a sensory function for birds, which allows them to detect things around them.
Intelligent
These types of feathers are from the group of sensory feathers. This has the function of allowing the bird to find insects in its environment with its beak. This type of feathers is much more noticeable in insectivorous birds. So, thanks to them, birds can easily detect insects around them.
Feathered Animals That Fly
In this section of the article we are going to talk about that group of animals with feathers that can fly. We are going to talk about the characteristics of each of them and their particularities. So, some of these feathered animals that can fly are as follows:
Woodpecker
The feathers that this type of bird has are very extraordinary, due to their bright and striking colors. However, this peculiarity will depend on the areas where it is inhabiting. We can find specimens of this type of woodpecker or as it is also known Picidae, which will have red and beige feathers. But despite the fact that there is a predominance in these colors, they can also be found in yellow and pink.
Cuckoo or Cuckoo
Within the group of animals with feathers that fly we can find the cuckoo, cuckoo, or as it is scientifically known Cuculidae. This is a small bird, which is characterized by having a thin and long tail and wings. As for its plumage, we can find that the variety of shades of gray will prevail in males, especially on the head, neck and back. As for their ventral parts, they will be white. On the other hand, we found that in females the plumage can be similar to that of males. However, they can also take on a reddish color, although this last shade is not common.
house sparrow
The house sparrow or as it is also known Passer domesticus, This is a type of bird that can be found in rural places such as cities. Regarding the plumage, it is different in both sexes, since the colors that are present in the plumage of the male are much more striking, and even when they are in mating season, they usually show a bright and very cute bib to be able to attract in this way. to the females.
Medium Merganser
The serreta median or as it is also known as Mergus serrator, is a bird belonging to the group of animals with feathers that fly. These birds are of the aquatic type, as for the plumage of the male, he will present some peculiar black feathers on his head. The rest of their body feathers will go from gray to white, but in the case of females, their plumage will have a reddish hue. The only similarity that both the male and the female will have are the secondary feathers, which will be white. A very outstanding feature in this species is that when they are about to take flight they are very fast.
European Falcon
The European Falcon stands out for having a plumage made up of 3 colors. The plumage on its chest is made up of brown feathers, while the feathers on its wings and on its face will be gray. However, there are some cases where white feathers can be found in these areas. The European Falcon or as the Falco subbuteo is also known, is a small bird, which has wings that end in a point, a very peculiar characteristic in them.
Golden Eagle
Now we have the golden eagle or as it is also known scientifically as Aquila chrysaetos. This is a bird of the raptor type, which can reach a speed of approximately 280 km/h. As for the color of its plumage being dark brown, this bird is distinguished from the others by its legs, since these are completely covered by feathers. We have that the feathers that cover its head will be of a golden hue and the plumage that covers its shoulders and ends of the tail will have white feathers.
Swift
This is a species that belongs to the group of feathered animals, which is also known by its scientific name Apus apus. This bird is not as fast as the golden eagle, but the swift can reach a speed of 200 km/h. The swift can be found almost always in the air, as far as its feeding is based fundamentally on insects. A very unique feature of them is that their wings tend to be much larger, on the contrary, their legs are usually short. This peculiarity makes them have a very unique physical structure.
flightless birds
We have already made known some of the feathered animals that fly, now we are going to explain the characteristics of those animals with feathers that do not fly or as they are also known as flightless birds. Among this group we can find the following:
Penguin
Even though penguins cannot fly, and for this reason they belong to the group of flightless birds, they live in aquatic places. Due to this they have managed to develop their fins, which make them great swimmers. Apart from their fins, they have a tail, which allows them to maintain their balance when walking. Penguins or as they are scientifically known Spheniscidae are found living in large colonies in which up to a thousand specimens of their type live.
Ostrich
In this type of flightless bird, the plumage will vary between the male and the female. In the case of the male, the plumage will be made up of black feathers that will cover its body and white feathers that cover both its tail and its wings. But in females, they have feathers of a grayish hue or can even become a light brown hue. Because ostriches cannot fly due to their size, because of their small wings in proportion to their body and because they are characterized by loose and drooping feathers, these will allow their balance when making a movement. Another characteristic that we can mention is that the ostrich or as it is scientifically known as Struthio camelus, is capable of reaching a speed of 65 km/h.
Kiwi
The kiwi or as it is also known scientifically as Apteryx. It is a small bird that is characterized by having an elongated and slightly curved beak. Its plumage is somewhat peculiar, since it seems that it has hair instead of feathers. The Apteryx does not fly and therefore belongs to the group of animals with feathers that do not fly, but this species can reach great speeds. The fact that this bird cannot fly is due to the fact that its wings are very small in proportion to its body, so it does not allow it to support its weight. Their wings tend to measure approximately 3 cm.
Cassowary
The cassowary or as it is also known Casuarius, is essential to maintain various ecosystems belonging to the forest. This bird belongs to the group of feathered animals, which are going to be characterized because their plumage bears a certain resemblance to those feathered coats. This plumage will have the function of thermoregulation, in order to shelter and protect their young. Another characteristic of these birds is that their heads will be blue in color and have a unique hard crest on top of their heads, in addition to having a thick red line on their neck. These birds are characterized by being very large and heavy, they are very similar to ostriches and for this reason they are birds that fall into the flightless group.
kakapo
The kakapo or as it is also known Strigops habroptilus, is a species that lives in New Zealand. This type of bird is of the nocturnal class, they use their peculiar green feathers to camouflage themselves from their prey and their predators in the forests. The kakapo is the only one of its species, a parrot, that does not fly in the world. This is because it is a large parrot for its wings.
domestic duck
In this group of duck species we can find in general terms the domestic and the wild duck. The difference that marks and distinguishes them both is that the domestic duck or as it is scientifically known Anas platyrhynchos domesticus cannot fly, its capacity is null. This is because this species has been adapting and therefore has lost its strength in its wings, since these are much shorter and much lighter.
Gallina
Chickens or as they are also known by their scientific name Gallus gallus domesticus, have certain plumage that does not allow them to fly. But this plumage has other functions necessary for the survival of these birds. These functions are to protect against climatic changes, either due to cold or heat, and also protect them from the blows that they may suffer at some point. Chickens fall into the group of feathered animals that do not fly, but this does not inhibit them. They are characterized by being very unruly, they also plan and live in a hierarchy, which makes them very territorial.
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