plumage
Avian feather covering
Plumage is the feathers covering a bird, considered collectively.
The word emphasizes appearance rather than individual feathers: The peacock displayed its brilliant plumage.
Male birds often have more colorful plumage than females.
The term extends to elaborate or showy dress: She arrived in full plumage for the gala.
Bird's lightweight covering
- quillFeather used for writing
- barbBackward-pointing spike
- shaftNarrow vertical passage
- vaneWind direction indicator
down · covert · contour · rachis · keratin · preen · pattern · symmetry
Toward lower ground
- warmthHeat you feel
- fluffinessSoft, airy quality
- thermalPertaining to warmth
- loftSpace beneath the roof
puffing · contour · waterproofing · preening · eiderdown · underlayer · brooding
Ornate pheasant relative
- courtshipSeeking another's romantic favor
- struttingWalking with exaggerated pride
- ornamentationDecorative additions to something
- spectacleVisually striking event
breeding · ritual · fanning · train · crest · iridescence · showiness · splendor
Color-imparting material
- melaninNatural coloring compound
- carotenoidsFat-soluble plant pigments
- iridescenceColor shift from interference
- patternRecurring arrangement or template
speckled · barred · spotted · striped · banded · camouflage · albinism · melanism
Losing outer covering
- eclipseCelestial body blocks another
- seasonalRecurring at fixed intervals
- renewalMaking current again
- regrowthGrowing back again
cycle · breeding · nonbreeding · worn · fresh · fledging · sequential · symmetrical
feathers
Bird's lightweight covering
vane · down · covert · contour · rachis · keratin · preen · pattern · symmetry · barbule
down
Toward lower ground
- warmthHeat you feel
- fluffinessSoft, airy quality
- thermalPertaining to warmth
loft · puffing · contour · waterproofing · preening · eiderdown · underlayer · brooding
peacock
Ornate pheasant relative
- courtshipSeeking another's romantic favor
- struttingWalking with exaggerated pride
- ornamentationDecorative additions to something
spectacle · breeding · ritual · fanning · train · crest · iridescence · showiness · splendor · grandeur
pigment
Color-imparting material
- melaninNatural coloring compound
- carotenoidsFat-soluble plant pigments
- iridescenceColor shift from interference
pattern · speckled · barred · spotted · striped · banded · camouflage · albinism · melanism · countershading
shedding
Losing outer covering
regrowth · cycle · breeding · nonbreeding · worn · fresh · fledging · sequential · symmetrical
panache
Flamboyant confidence of manner
aigrette · ostrich · marabou · headdress · boa · ornament · Victorian · adornment · costume · decorative
- animal signalsbody language, bird songs, tail wagging, mating calls, whale song
- turkeysturkey, turkeys, gobbler, tom, hen
- bird markingsbars, bands, barred, banded, spots
- pigeonsrock pigeon, homing pigeon, carrier pigeon, rock dove, wood pigeon
- falconryfalcon, falconer, hood, gauntlet, jesses
- feathersfeather, feathers, down feathers, quill, flight feathers
plumagebaldness
Absence of hair
nakedness · featherlessness · bare patches · dullness · camouflage
- grey plumage
- colorful plumageVibrant bird coat
- breeding plumageOrnate feathers for courtship
- winter plumageBird's cold-season feathering
- black plumageBird's dark outer covering
- white plumageBird's colorless feather covering