Air transmissivity of feathers

Abstract

The flight feathers and their coverts of a European kestrel Falco tinnunculus have been tested for their air transmissivity. The transmissivity was measured in both directions, i.e. from ventral to dorsal and vice versa; the mean difference between the two directions was less than 10 %. However, the transmissivity of the inner versus outer vanes of the remiges and coverts differed significantly, with the outer vanes being more transmissive than the inner vanes. A functional interpretation of the different transmissivities of the inner and outer vanes is given, and we propose that its significance lies in the formation of a smooth, continuous wing surface. The individual feathers are pushed firmly towards one another as a result of the different transmissivities, which cause a pressure gradient to build up from the less-transmissive inner vane towards the overlying, more-transmissive outer vane of the adjacent feather. In another test series, the transmissivity of the flight and covert feathers of 27 species was measured; the differences found between species were small.