Q: I witnessed a bird (I think it was a cockatiel) at a pet shop that appeared to be picking at and pulling out its own feathers. Why would it do this? A: Feathers are pretty amazing natural works of ...

A study explores how birds rearrange feathers after flights through gusts and foliage. The durability of bird feathers is evident in the ease with which birds preen and repair ruffled feathers using ...

We are likely all familiar with preening, the well-known and important bird behavior that helps maintain feather health and hygiene. But what is allopreening? Put simply, allopreening is birds ...

Scientists discovered that the preen oil gland secretions, by which all aquatic birds make their feathers waterproof, support a natural mechanism that concentrates AIVs from water onto birds' bodies.

The sandhill cranes that summer in the Homer area spend a good portion of their days preening their feathers to remove dirt and parasites or lice that can damage feathers or cause illness. While their ...

Despite their famously fancy feathers, flamingos don't spent more time preening than other waterbirds, new research shows. Despite their famously fancy feathers, flamingos don't spent more time ...

I thought my cat was bad. The incessant licking to keep himself clean. He’s got to be the cleanest cat ever. Then I watched a northern mockingbird preening itself. It went on for as long as I could ...