Covert (feather)

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Upperwing of Orange-headed Thrush, Zoothera citrina cyanotus

A covert feather on a bird is one of a set of feathers, called coverts, which as the name implies, cover other feathers. The coverts help to smooth airflow over the wings and tail.

The uppertail and undertail coverts cover the base of the tail feathers above and below.

Underwing of Orange-headed Thrush

There are four sets of coverts on the upper wings. The primary coverts cover the base of the primary flight feathers on the outer wing, and the greater, median and lesser coverts cover the base of the secondary flight feathers of the inner wing. The secondary coverts overlap each other like roof tiles, with the lesser coverts overlapping the median coverts, which in turn overlap the greater coverts.

There are a further five sets of coverts on the underwing.

Sometimes coverts are more specialised. The "tail" of a peacock is actually very elongated uppertail coverts.

[edit] References

A rear view of an Indian Peacock's true tail and elongated uppertail covert feathers

• Mullarney, Killian; Svensson, Lars; Zetterstrom, Dan; Grant, Peter (1999). Collins Bird Guide. London: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-00-219728-6.