Bristle Bird Feathers

Not all species of birds have bristle feathers. Bristles are specialized feathers that are believed to perform a tactile function. They have a stiff, tapered rachis and few, if any barbs that appear only at the base of the feather. Bristles are usually found on the head or neck, often around the mouth or eyelids. In some insect eaters, bristles found on the face and around the mouth are thought by ornithologists to act as funnels, helping the birds to scoop insects out of the air. Long facial bristles in owls, who tend to be farsighted, are thought to aid the bird in sensing nearby objects. Woodpeckers have bristle feathers over their nostrils, where it is thought that they act as a filter for the dust produced as they drill holes in trees.