blood feathers

This is a blood feather of a barred owl. Blood feathers, also known as pin feathers, are new feathers that grow in birds during a normal molt, or feather loss. When a feather is pulled out or falls out, a new feather is stimulated to grow from the skin’s feather follicle. This new feather has a blood supply running through it, which gives it a deep purple, maroon, bluish-purple, or black color, instead of the usual white or clear color of a fully developed feather. The feather is also encased in a keratin sheath, or feather sheath, to protect it while it develops.  I don’t find many blood feathers, so this was a special find.

barred owl blood feather