Powder down

Powder down

Powder down, or pulviplumes, is a special type of down that occurs in a few groups of unrelated birds. In some species, the tips of the barbules on powder down feathers disintegrate, forming fine particles of keratin, which appear as a powder, or "feather dust", among the feathers. These feathers grow continuously and are not moulted. In other species, powder grains come from cells that surround the barbules of growing feathers. These specialized feathers are typically scattered among ordinary down feathers, though in some species, they occur in clusters. All parrots have powder down, with some species (including the mealy amazons) producing copious amounts. It is also found in herons and tinamous. The dust produced from powder down feathers is a known allergen in humans.