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<p>Flight in birds is supported by the presence of wing feathers known as remiges. Particularly, the asymmetrically shaped primary feathers (<i>Remiges primarii</i>) generate the necessary lift that allows a bird to take off. These feathers are supplemented with keratinous microstructures called hooklets. The interlocking ability with the opposing posterior barbules creates a continuous surface referred to as the feather’s vane. Using scanning electron microscopy of individual barbs, this study provides a detailed characterization of hooklet distribution within a primary wing feather of the Common Wood Pigeon (<i>Columba palumbus</i>; Columbidae). The results of this study reveal gradients in the distribution of hooklets within the feather vane that are discussed in the context of the physical forces to which a feather is exposed to during flight. Furthermore, the study reveals a greater variation in the number of hooklets per barbule than previously described, indicating that the sole use of the number of hooklets per barbule as a potential taxonomic marker is very limited.</p>

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The quantitative analysis of the hooklets’ distribution in a bird wing feather of Columba palumbus (Columbidae, Aves)

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月14日

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  • Viekas F. Klüß,
  • Stanislav N. Gorb,
  • Alexander Kovalev

摘要

Flight in birds is supported by the presence of wing feathers known as remiges. Particularly, the asymmetrically shaped primary feathers (Remiges primarii) generate the necessary lift that allows a bird to take off. These feathers are supplemented with keratinous microstructures called hooklets. The interlocking ability with the opposing posterior barbules creates a continuous surface referred to as the feather’s vane. Using scanning electron microscopy of individual barbs, this study provides a detailed characterization of hooklet distribution within a primary wing feather of the Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus; Columbidae). The results of this study reveal gradients in the distribution of hooklets within the feather vane that are discussed in the context of the physical forces to which a feather is exposed to during flight. Furthermore, the study reveals a greater variation in the number of hooklets per barbule than previously described, indicating that the sole use of the number of hooklets per barbule as a potential taxonomic marker is very limited.