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Are there any birds with hair or fur versus feathers?

Question #72432. Asked by zbeckabee.
Last updated Jun 02 2021.

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star_gazer
Answer has 9 votes
star_gazer
23 year member
5236 replies avatar

Answer has 9 votes.
Bats - but they are mammals not birds.

Nov 18 2006, 10:10 PM
Betro
Answer has 7 votes
Betro

Answer has 7 votes.
Bats

Nov 19 2006, 12:51 AM
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Baloo55th
Answer has 6 votes
Baloo55th
22 year member
4545 replies avatar

Answer has 6 votes.
Bats ain't no birds. Kiwis have sort of hairy feathers instead of feathery feathers, but otherwise all birds are feathered. Except for a few exceptions like frozen chickens.... Definitely no furry birds on this planet.

Nov 19 2006, 10:18 AM
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star_gazer
Answer has 10 votes
Currently Best Answer
star_gazer
23 year member
5236 replies avatar

Answer has 10 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
Also, once a year Geese will shed all their feathers and be "naked" for a short period of time.

link https://www.ducks.org/conservation/waterfowl-research-science/understanding-waterfowl-the-amazing-molt

Response last updated by CmdrK on Jun 02 2021.
Nov 19 2006, 7:12 PM
skysmom65
Answer has 7 votes
skysmom65
19 year member
1504 replies

Answer has 7 votes.
Birds have 'hair' and they are called rictal bristles, which are hairlike feathers that occur mostly around the base of the bill, nostrils and eyes.

These rictal bristles are modified from contour feathers in that they are without vanes. The word 'rictal' comes from 'rictus' which refers to the gape of the mouth. The function of the bristles occurring around the mouth is to increase the effective use of the gape (e.g. flycatchers and barbets). Eye bristles function as protective eyelashes (e.g. ostriches and hornbills) while bristles over the nostrils filter dust from the air.

However scientists in the past have traced the development of such bristles to that of feathers and they are not to be confused with the hair of mammals. So we call the outer covering for birds as feathers, mammals we call hair, and fish we call scales.
link https://www.jstor.org/stable/4160198?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

Response last updated by CmdrK on Jun 02 2021.
Nov 19 2006, 9:14 PM
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