Total number of feathers in the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia)

Abstract

Understanding the total number and distribution of feathers in birds offers valuable insights into the energetic demands of molt and feather maintenance, and contributes to broader topics such as physiological investment and allometric scaling. Here we counted and weighted the total feathers present in one adult male of Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia cunicularia) from central Patagonia, Argentina. The specimen had 6,148 feathers that weighted 14.73 g. The most numerous feathers were capital feathers, followed by wing coverts, while the heaviest included the wing feathers and the ventral feathers. Feathers represent 9.2% of the total owl weight, while the skeleton represents the 7.15%. Our data provides a valuable baseline for future comparative studies on molt, energy allocation, thermal ecology, and the distinctive ecological adaptations of owls and other non-passerine birds.