flight feather
noun
: one of the quills of a bird's wing or tail that support it in flight compare contour feather
Examples of flight feather in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The animal rescue wrote on Facebook that the gull's tail feathers and flight feathers had been plucked from its body, resulting in some blood loss — and a large black swastika symbol had been painted in the middle of its head.
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Greta Bjornson, People.com, 12 June 2025
Across over 10,000 bird species, in forms as small as the bristles on a hummingbird’s forehead and as large as condor flight feathers, every feather in the world is made of this one substance.
—Ian Rose, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 June 2025
The researchers detected the first evidence in Archaeopteryx of a group of flight feathers called tertials, which grow along the humerus between the elbow and the body and are an important component of all powered flight in modern birds.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 21 May 2025
Until now, hummingbirds have drawn the most attention for their iridescent plumage and flight feathers that allow for ultrafast wingbeats.
—Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 4 Apr. 2025
In flight feathers, the barbs interlock like Velcro teeth to form the smooth, windproof surface of the vanes.
—Michael B. Habib, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024
The contour feathers that streamline a bird’s body, for example, have vaned tips like flight feathers and noninterlocking barbs like down ones.
—Michael B. Habib, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024
Flamingos are distinguished by their pink-colored plumage and black flight feathers on their wings, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
—David Chiu, Peoplemag, 5 Sep. 2023
However, trimming flamingos flight feathers is considered by many to be inhumane, according to the American Bird Conservancy.
—Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2023
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Greta Bjornson, People.com, 12 June 2025
Across over 10,000 bird species, in forms as small as the bristles on a hummingbird’s forehead and as large as condor flight feathers, every feather in the world is made of this one substance.
—Ian Rose, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 June 2025
The researchers detected the first evidence in Archaeopteryx of a group of flight feathers called tertials, which grow along the humerus between the elbow and the body and are an important component of all powered flight in modern birds.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 21 May 2025
Until now, hummingbirds have drawn the most attention for their iridescent plumage and flight feathers that allow for ultrafast wingbeats.
—Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 4 Apr. 2025
In flight feathers, the barbs interlock like Velcro teeth to form the smooth, windproof surface of the vanes.
—Michael B. Habib, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024
The contour feathers that streamline a bird’s body, for example, have vaned tips like flight feathers and noninterlocking barbs like down ones.
—Michael B. Habib, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024
Flamingos are distinguished by their pink-colored plumage and black flight feathers on their wings, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
—David Chiu, Peoplemag, 5 Sep. 2023
However, trimming flamingos flight feathers is considered by many to be inhumane, according to the American Bird Conservancy.
—Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Flight feather.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flight%20feather. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.
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