The parts of a vaned feather
1. Vane
the section of the feather with the feathery bits.
2. Rachis - the main shaft
3. Barb - thin branches that are attached to the rachis. Each of these has many more tiny branches coming off it called barbules. The barbules hook onto each other to hold the feathers shape. These are the bits that become a mess when you rub a feather up the wrong way! See the image below for a closeupof the barbs and barbules.
4. Afterfeather - a downy section of feather at the base of the vane.
5. Hollow shaft, calamus - the section of the feather without barbs that is attached to the skin.
the section of the feather with the feathery bits.
2. Rachis - the main shaft
3. Barb - thin branches that are attached to the rachis. Each of these has many more tiny branches coming off it called barbules. The barbules hook onto each other to hold the feathers shape. These are the bits that become a mess when you rub a feather up the wrong way! See the image below for a closeupof the barbs and barbules.
4. Afterfeather - a downy section of feather at the base of the vane.
5. Hollow shaft, calamus - the section of the feather without barbs that is attached to the skin.
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