Book 23, Question 30
What Do a Bird's Tail Feathers Do in the Air?
A bird's tail is like a steering wheel with feathers. It acts like a rudder and an elevator at once. A peacock's long tail is for show and does not help it fly.
More fun facts
- Tail feathers are called rectrices, and they count as flight feathers.
- Spread in a fan shape, they help a bird steer precisely while flying.
- Most birds have six pairs of tail feathers.
- The outer pairs of tail feathers are more lopsided than the inner ones.
- Only the two middle tail feathers are attached to bone.
- In some birds, the tail feathers have turned into showy ornaments that are useless for flying.
- A male King Bird-of-Paradise has tail feathers that end in shiny spirals, which he shows off in courtship.
Sources: academy.allaboutbirds.org
Questions kids ask
Are tail feathers built like wing feathers?
Yes. Most tail feathers have the same kind of tiny interlocking hooks as wing feathers.