contour feather meaning

• Noun: contour feather
  1. Feathers covering the body of an adult bird and determining its shape

  Derived forms: contour feathers

  Type of: feather, plumage, plume

• contour:    Noun: contour  ...
• feather:    Noun: feather  ...
• bathymetric contour:    [Defence] See dept ...

Examples

1. This is due to a reduction in the melanin content of the contour feathers.
2. By 12 days old, contour feathers are well developed in areas except for the head.
3. The type species, " I . viai ", is known only from a collection of isolated contour feathers.
4. Pale flecking on the feather shafts sometimes result in barred appearance on the contour feathers of the nape, back and upper wing.
5. The type species, " C . sarysuensis ", is known only from an isolated of isolated, asymmetrical contour feather.