This is Bird Note.

Great blue herons are known for their exquisite soft blue feathers,

with lavender gray on their necks and reddish shadowing around their shoulders.

Do they have a special feather care routine to keep them looking so sleek?

Well, maybe something like that. Herons are one of the few groups of birds that produce powder

down. Hidden below the outer breast feathers are patches of special down feathers. These feathers are

never molted. They grow continuously, and the tips break down into a dust, the consistency of talcum powder.

Using a fringed claw on its middle toe, the heron collects some of the dust, called powder down, and works it into its feathers,

sort of like the way you might work conditioner into your hair.

Herons are special. Most birds don't have powder-down feathers,

except for some parrots, pigeons, and doves, and tinamoos, and busters.

It's an odd list of birds that aren't closely related.

This magical beauty powder may help herons waterproof their feathers while removing fish gunk and other grunge. It may also

add luster to the feathers, which could be important during the breeding season.

For Bird Note, I'm Mary McCann.

BirdNote gives you the sounds of birds every day,

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At BirdNote Radio.