Birds feathers are made from keratin, a substance which is also found in hair and horn.
Down the middle of a feather there is a stiff horny shaft called a quill.
• The flat part on either side of the quill is called the vane. It is made from tiny fibers called barbs. There are about 600 barbs on either side, each carrying smaller offshoots. All the barbs and offshoots are locked tightly together by hooks to make a smooth surface.
Water birds have long legs for wading. They often have webbed feet to help them paddle, and long bills or breaks for finding food in the water. Cormorants , ducks and flamingoes are example of waterbirds * item
