What is preening?

What is preening?

• A. Preening is the act of cleaning and arranging feathers with the beak to maintain their condition and insulation.
• B. Preening is the process of shedding old feathers.
• C. Preening is the feeding of nestlings.
• D. Preening is a type of flight maneuver.

Answer: (A)

Preening is the bird’s regular maintenance behavior in which it uses its beak to clean, straighten, and recondition its feathers. By grooming, a bird removes dirt and parasites, aligns the tiny barbules so feathers overlap properly, and spreads oil from the uropygial (preen) gland across the plumage. This oil helps waterproofing and insulation, keeping feathers flexible for flight and good in varying temperatures. Preening is different from molting, which is the shedding and regrowth of feathers, and it’s not the act of feeding nestlings or performing a flight maneuver.