The whistling heron is a medium-sized, often terrestrial heron of South America. It is the only species placed in the genus Syrigma. There are two subspecies, the southern S. s. sibilatrix and the nor
Cayley Pelecanus conspicillatus
The down of birds is a layer of fine feathers found under the tougher exterior feathers. Very young birds are clad only in down. Powder down is a specialized type of down found only in a few groups of
Down feathers lack the interlocking barbules of pennaceous feathers, making them very soft and fluffy.
Like many precocial hatchlings, domestic chickens are already covered with a coat of downy feathers when they hatch.
"Feather dust" left on a window after a birdstrike
Body down feathers, like these exposed on this adult male budgerigar's back, lie underneath the contour feathers and help to insulate birds against heat loss.