Quick Answers
When bird feathers get wet, the feathers can become waterlogged and heavy. This makes it more difficult for birds to fly or maintain their body heat. However, most birds have special oils that protect their feathers from getting soaked through. Water rolls off healthy feathers like water off a duck’s back. Still, prolonged exposure to water can compromise the feather’s structure and insulating ability.
Birds’ feathers provide them with the ability to fly and maintain a consistent internal body temperature. Feathers repel water and insulate birds from precipitation and temperature extremes. But what happens when bird feathers do get wet? Can birds still fly with wet feathers? Do wet feathers compromise their ability to regulate their body temperature?
In this article, we’ll explore what happens when bird feathers get soaked with water. We’ll look at how the structure of feathers allows them to repel water, and why healthy feathers are naturally water resistant. We’ll also discuss what can happen when feathers get overly saturated, and how different types of birds are adapted to handle wet plumage.
Feather Structure and Water Resistance
Bird feathers have a highly complex structure that allows them to be lightweight yet aerodynamic and water resistant. Feathers are made up of a central shaft called a rachis. Thin strands called barbs extend out from the rachis, and smaller structures called barbules branch off the barbs. The barbs and barbules are held together by tiny hooks known as barbicels.
This tight weaving of barbs and barbules forms a continuous surface that allows feathers to repel water. When feathers get wet, the hooks that hold the barbules together seal the feathers into a cohesive unit that water cannot penetrate. This causes water to roll right off the feathers without soaking through to the skin.
Feathers also contain an oil called preen oil that birds spread over their feathers when preening. Preen oil waterproofs and conditions feathers, helping to maintain their ability to repel water. The oil fills in any gaps between the feather strands and coats the intricate barb and barbule branches.
Types of Feathers
Birds have several types of feathers, each with their own unique structure:
- Contour feathers – These body feathers help repel water and insulate birds.
- Down feathers – Fluffy, downy feathers that trap air to retain heat.
- Filoplumes – Hair-like feathers that detect touch.
- Flight feathers – Long, stiff feathers on the wings and tail that provide thrust and lift.
Contour feathers and flight feathers have more complex branching that allows them to lock together and repel water. Down feathers do not have the same level of branching but are highly insulative to retain body heat, even when wet. Filoplumes are hair-like and minimally affected by water.
What Happens When Feathers Get Wet
In most cases, feathers shed water well and birds suffer minimal adverse effects from wet feathers. However, there are some impacts to consider when bird feathers do get soaked:
Waterlogged Feathers
If feathers become completely waterlogged, the additional weight of the water can impede a bird’s ability to take off and fly. Birds may have to expend more energy to fly with heavy, wet feathers.
Wet feathers also lose some insulating ability, which can cause birds to lose body heat. The more soaked the feathers become, the less effectively they will retain heat.
Loss of Waterproofing
Wet feathers take time to dry out properly. If feathers remain damp, the hooks that hold the barbules together may not reconnect and seal the feathers. This can cause lasting damage to the feather’s integrity and water resistance.
Wet feathers are also more prone to matting, which further opens gaps in the feather weave. Matted feathers may not properly realign once dry.
Hypothermia
Wet, chilled birds can suffer hypothermia if they cannot dry and rewarm quickly. Small birds with higher surface area to volume ratios are at greater risk as they lose heat more rapidly.
Young birds may be especially vulnerable as their feather branching and impermeability develops over time. Young birds may get drenched rather than having water roll off their feathers.
Impact on Flight
For most birds, flight is still possible with wet feathers, but it requires more energy expenditure. The extra weight of the feathers reduces lift force and maneuverability.
Birds may not be able to fly as far distances or remain aloft as long until their feathers dry. They may have to rest frequently when flying with wet feathers.
Drowning Risk
While a healthy bird can still usually float with wet feathers, swimming and floating ability may be reduced. A completely waterlogged bird is at greater risk of drowning if it cannot reach a perch or dry land.
Feather Waterproofing Adaptations in Different Birds
While all healthy bird feathers shed water to some degree, some types of birds have feathers that are specially adapted for aquatic environments and frequent swimming.
Oils and Waxes
Birds that spend most of their time on the water, like ducks and loons, have special oils on their feathers that make them completely impervious to moisture. Their feathers remain dry even after hours of swimming.
The preen oil described earlier contains hydrophobic molecules that cause water to bead up and roll off. An additional layer of waxes on aquatic bird feathers provides further protection.
Denser Barbule Hooks
The tiny hooks that connect feather barbules are more numerous and densely packed in aquatic species. More hooks per unit of barbule surface area means the feathers interlock tightly together with little space for water to seep in.
Fluffier Down
Birds like ducks have a thicker, fluffier layer of down feathers. Even if water penetrates the outer contour feathers, the down retains insulating air and prevents loss of body heat.
Preening Behavior
Species like ducks spend more time preening. Frequent spreading of preen oil ensures their feathers maintain maximum water resistance. They are constantly re-coating their feathers with fresh oil.
What To Do If You Find a Wet Bird
If you encounter a soaked, chilled bird that is having trouble flying or seems unable to escape the water, here are some tips:
- Gently pick up the bird and dry it with a towel if possible. Focus on the wings and body.
- Warm the bird gradually if hypothermic. Place it in a ventilated box on a heating pad on low, or near a heat source like a register.
- Avoid drying feathers with high heat like a hairdryer, which can damage feathers.
- Once dry, provide a perch and shelter so the bird can finish preening its feathers.
- Get the bird to a wildlife rehabilitator if it appears injured or unable to fly.
With time and proper drying, most birds recover fully from wet feather incidents. Their intricate feather adaptations allow them to repel and survive most rainy encounters.
Conclusion
Bird feathers have a highly specialized design that causes water to roll off them, keeping birds dry in most situations. However, feathers can become waterlogged after extensive soaking, impeding flight and temperature regulation. Prolonged dampness can also damage feathers and remove their protective oils.
While wet feathers pose some risks like hypothermia, most birds can still fly to some degree and will recover after preening and drying out their plumage. Waterproofing adaptations like dense barbule hooks and thick preen oils allow birds that swim frequently to maintain dry, insulating feathers.
Understanding how feathers repel water provides insight into how birds survive the elements. Even occasional soaking rarely keeps a bird grounded for long.
