Feather, a horny outgrowth of the skin that forms the body
covering, or plumage, of birds. Birds are the only animals to
have feathers, and all birds have them. Feathers, like hair,
grow from pits called follicles. They do not grow uniformly over
the body, but only in certain areas called feather tracts.
Nearly all birds molt, or shed their feathers, after the nesting
period every year. Some undergo a partial or complete molt again
in spring; some molt three times yearly. The young of some
birds, such as chickens and certain waterfowl, are hatched
already clothed with feathers. Most singing and perching birds
are hatched naked. Some kinds of feathers are used to stuff
pillows, cushions, and mattresses. For many years, writing was
done with the quills of feathers from geese and other birds.
Feathers mounted on the rear of arrow shafts serve as fins,
keeping the arrows steady in flight. They serve a similar
function on badminton “birds.” Feathers are also made into such
products as fans, dusters, and artificial