What is the outer covering of a duck?

What is the outer covering of a duck?

“Plumage” means the outer covering of birds. “Down” refers to the undercoating of waterfowl, including goose, duck or swan, consisting of light fluffy filaments (barbs) growing from a quill point but without a quill shaft.

What type of body coverings do birds have?

Birds Birds have feathers covering their bodies and scales on their legs. Their feathers are made of keratin and grow from a follicle similar to mammalian hair.

What are duck feathers called?

Waterfowl have three types of feathers: contour, flight, and down. Contour feathers collectively serve as a protective outer shell.

What are the body covering animals?

The are basically four types of animal covering: fur, feathers, scales, and shells and exoskeletons.

What kind of feet does a duck have?

Feet: Ducks have wide, strongly webbed feet that help them be powerful, efficient swimmers and in many cases, agile divers. The feet often have durable talons that help the birds grip different surfaces on land as well, including slippery rocks and branches, even if their body structure does not support agile walking.

What kind of body does a female duck have?

Ducks also have shorter necks and wings and a stout body. A female duck is called a ‘hen’, they are identified by their very-dull, brown feathers.

How does a duck keep its feathers water proof?

The duck picks up the oil with its head and beak, and then smears it all over its body to make the outer feathers waterproof. Without this protective barrier, a ducks feathers would become water-logged and because they spend their whole lives around and in water, this water-proof barrier is extremely important.

How can you tell if a duck has webbed feet?

Foot: Ducks have webbed feet, but the color of the feet can vary. The extent of the webbing, size of the feet, and relative size of the talons can also provide clues for the duck’s identity. Rump: Duck rumps are often obscured by folded wings, but when they are visible, note the color or any pattern to help identify the duck.