Plumule (Noun)
Meaning
Down feather of young birds; persists in some adult birds.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The young chick's plumule was a soft, fluffy down that provided insulation until its adult feathers grew in.
- Many waterfowl, such as ducks and geese, retain a plumule on their belly throughout their lives, even after they reach adulthood.
- The plumule of the baby albatross was carefully preened by its mother to keep it clean and dry in the harsh marine environment.
- Ornithologists often use the presence or absence of a plumule to determine the age of a bird in the field.
- In some species of songbirds, the plumule is lost and replaced with adult feathers after the first few weeks of life, but in others, it may persist for several months.