Ever since I was a little girl, I have been fascinated by birds. I have always wondered how they view the world from above, how they create woven nests with just their bills, how they can sing, and why they have colourful feathers. I would collect as many feathers as I could and then try my hardest to identify which bird each feather belonged to and why it was that colour?
My small collection of feathers from Londolozi and from my trip to Brazil,
A Symphony of Feathers: Exploring the Beauty and Functionality of Avian Plumage
Birds have long captured the imagination of humans with their ability to soar through the skies, their songs filling the air with melody. But one of their most striking features is their feathers—an evolutionary marvel that combines beauty, utility, and adaptability. Over the years, I have researched how and why birds have feathers. As I learnt more about feathers the more I could not stop looking for more feathers. I decided to look into the fascinating world of feathers through the lens of five remarkable bird species: the Lilac-breasted Roller, Purple-crested Turaco, Starlings, Woodland Kingfisher, and Eagles.
My room is filled with frames of some of my feather collection. This is one of the frames. Owls, the emerald spot of the Emerald- spotted Wood Dove, Lilac-breasted Roller, Diederik Cuckoo, Woodland Kingfisher and a Weaver are all in this frame.
Lilac-breasted Roller: A Palette of Colors in Flight
The Lilac-breasted Roller is often considered one of the most colourful birds in the world. Its feathers are a breathtaking blend of lilac, turquoise, green, and blue, creating a dazzling display as it flies. These vibrant colours serve a few purposes: attracting mates and deterring predators by signalling the bird’s vitality and health. The Lilac-breasted Roller’s feathers also play a role in territorial displays, as the bird performs aerial acrobatics to assert dominance over its domain, it also helps that both the male and female rollers are the same colour to seem more intimidating to rivals.
Purple-Crested Turaco: Nature’s Velvet Jewel
The Purple-crested Turaco is an emblem of royalty in the bird kingdom. Its feathers possess an iridescent quality, with hues of deep purple, green, and red. Uniquely, the red pigment in their wings, known as turacin, is derived from copper—a rarity in the avian world.
These pigments not only add to the bird’s striking appearance but may also have roles in signalling and camouflage amidst the dense foliage of their forest habitats. The Turaco’s crest feathers further add to its majestic appearance, standing tall like a crown.
The iridescent blue feather of a Turaco.
Starlings: Masters of Iridescence
Starlings are a family of birds renowned for their iridescent plumage. Depending on the angle of light, their feathers shimmer with shades of blue, purple, green, and gold. This optical phenomenon, caused by microscopic structures within the feathers, is more than just a visual treat. The iridescence can signal the bird’s fitness to potential mates and even confuse predators by disrupting their visual perception. In flocks, the collective movement of starlings, known as murmurations, creates an almost hypnotic effect, further showcasing their glittering plumage.
Eagles: The Power of Functional Feathers
While Eagles may not boast the flamboyant colours of the Roller or Turaco, their feathers are a testament to engineering excellence. Designed for strength, insulation, and flight efficiency, eagle feathers are sturdy yet lightweight. Their plumage aids in silent flight, critical for stealthy hunting, while providing protection against harsh weather conditions at high altitudes. Eagles also use their feathers to communicate—fluffing them up to appear larger when threatened or during mating displays.
Feathers Are More Than Just Adornments
They are multifunctional tools that define a bird’s way of life. From thermoregulation and flight to camouflage and communication, feathers have enabled birds to thrive in diverse environments. The dazzling colours of the Lilac-breasted Roller, the unique pigments of the Turaco, the iridescence of Starlings, and the functional design of Eagle feathers illustrate the remarkable diversity of their adaptation.
My favourite feather from my collection. This is a feather from my bird, Maisy, who I rescued in 2017.
Maisy the lesser masked weaver.
Thank you for your informative and colourful blog.
Thanks to Maisytoo
Jess, thank you for sharing your personal interest in birds and their feathers. I am also fascinated with birds and enjoy watching them out my backyard with my binoculars. Your feather collection is really beautiful, again thanks for sharing.
I always savor blogs that are non-big five (although those are informative, too). I have a shadow box of local (Virginia USA) bird feathers and a pottery dish with feathers gathered at Londolozi. With each visit to Londolozi I appreciate more and more South African birds.
Hi Jess, I to love feathers of different birds. I have feathers from the Spotted Eagle Owl that lived in the tree in our yard. My husband build a wooden box for them and they nested in it and had 3 chick’s. I had the privilege of watching them feed the chick’s and then teaching them how to fly as well. I picked up a few feathers around my yard and I have kept them safely. When we moved to the Kranspoort Reserve I also saw and heard a Spotted Eagle Owl and picked up 2 or 3 feathers. Maybe I should also frame the feathers I kept, you have given me a good idea.
Jess, thanks for this unique and interesting blog today. Birds are fascinating creatures and one can spend many hours observing their behavior as well as listening to their songs. I love that you have displayed your collection of feathers in frames and the shelf unit, so that even while you’re inside your apartment, you’re reminded of your feathered friends.
I’ve always been fascinated by feathers too, Jess. But what I never understood is why birds lose those feathers we find. Do they regularly replace or renew their feathers?
Yes, birds molt once or twice a year where they lose old feathers and new ones grow in their place (although they oculd lose them for other reasons, too). It’s like our hair, or sharks teeth; they replenish.
Nice feather collection and enjoyed your framing. Ever find any iridescent or LBR feathers? You’re the first feather collector we have run in to!
Thanks for this remarkable blog, Jess.
Birds and their often colorful feathers are indeed fascinating animals. I also love collecting feathers,
especially the colorful ones, of course.
For thousands of years mankind has admired the ability of birds to fly, thousands of miles when they migrate .
It’s totally fascinating.
I love this, Jess! I too am an avid feather collector–I have hundreds of them. I see many of them as spiritual messages and often feel such a sense of support and Divine guidance when I find just the right one. Maybe I will find some the there whenever I return.
I love feathers, too. I collected some for my grandson when I was in Africa.