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What Makes Feathers Both Strong and Light

What Makes Feathers Both Strong and Light

Zoom in on the intricate structures of feathers!

BirdNote Daily

July 17, 20231m 35s

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Show Notes

Bird feathers are famously light, but they’re also strong, holding up under tricky flying and high winds. They’re made of beta keratin, a tougher version of the keratin that makes up human fingernails and hair. They also have an intricate branching structure that makes them highly flexible and free of unnecessary weight.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org

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Topics

birdingfeatherssciencebirds