Wing Anatomy

Index of Bird Diseases … Symptoms & Potential Causes … Bird Species & Diseases They are Most Susceptible to

Wing coverts: Feathers at the leading edge of the wing, covering the bases of the secondaries (shorter, upper “arm” feathers) and primaries wing feathers

Uppertail and undertail coverts: Feathers covering the base of the tail feathers above and below.

Coverts or Covert Feathers: Sets of feathers covering other feathers. For example, the wing-coverts are the feathers right above the wing feathers. They cover the base of the flight feathers to provide a smoother surface for the air to flow over.

Remiges: Large flight feathers – responsible for supporting the bird during flight. The outer remiges are referred to as the primaries. These are the largest, thinnest and stiffest of the flight feathers. The inner remiges – called the secondaries – are attached to the “forearm” (ulna) of a bird.

Primaries: The long flight feathers on the outer half of the wing

Secondaries: The flight feathers on the inner half of the wing

Speculum: A patch formed by colorful or iridescent secondary feathers on the wings

Wingbars: Stripes across the folded wing

Wing patches: Blocks of color on the wing

Wing lining: The feathers covering the underside of the wing