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Since the 20th century, scientific ornithology has been closely linked to the conservation of birds. The study of feathers is a factor that is often overlooked. In museums, the majority of their bird skin collections are archived, stored away in drawers under lock and key and only ever seen by a very selective audience and not the general public.

You only love what you know, and you only protect what you love.

Konrad Lorenz

Being able to touch, feel and study a feather in the hand engages people, especially children, with nature; what child hasn’t stopped to pick up a feather in a park or their backyard and marvel at it, and wonder what bird it came from. From a long, slender Arctic Tern primary, which has undertaken an incredible migratory journey of around 37.000 miles / 60.000 kilometers from pole to pole, to the soft, downy feather of a Barn Owl, helping the bird to fly on silent wings as it hunts at night; every feather has a fascinating story to tell, each so unique in its makeup, shape, form, texture, color and function it serves to the bird. Feathers can teach us so much about birds and how they live. They bring people closer to the natural world – and therefore play an important role in its preservation.

Featherbase is a working group of German feather scientists and other collectors worldwide who came together with their personal collections and created the biggest and most comprehensive online feather library in the world. Using our website, it is possible to identify feathers from hundreds of different species, compare similarities between them, work out gender or age-specific characteristics and look at the statistics of countless feather measurements. In contrast to the conventional work of museums, Featherbase is much more oriented towards the general public, allowing not just enrolled scientists the opportunity to gain access to the collection, but anyone with an interest in studying birds and their feathers. Featherbase also frequently collaborates with scientific or educational organizations by offering images, data or teamwork in general.

Featherbase works completely independently, without administrative affiliation, and first and foremost without commercial interests. We are a non-profit making entity and funded entirely by our own contributors. The collecting of feathers and skins for our database is approved by the relevant authorities, and for any protected/CITES listed species held, we are fastidious about maintaining records of their origin.

1943

species

7316

specimens

17533

images

111605

measurements

recent changes

Alexander Haase created the specimen 10081 in Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus) for Wolf-Dieter Busching

30.04.2024 - 11:21

Alexander Haase created the specimen 10080 in Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus) for Wolf-Dieter Busching

30.04.2024 - 11:20

Alexander Haase created the specimen 10079 in Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus) for Wolf-Dieter Busching

30.04.2024 - 11:15

Alexander Haase created the specimen 10078 in Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus) for Wolf-Dieter Busching

30.04.2024 - 11:13

Alexander Haase created the specimen 10077 in Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus) for Wolf-Dieter Busching

30.04.2024 - 11:12

Alexander Haase created the specimen 10076 in Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus) for Wolf-Dieter Busching

30.04.2024 - 11:10

Alexander Haase created the specimen 10075 in Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus) for Wolf-Dieter Busching

30.04.2024 - 11:08

Alexander Haase created the specimen 10074 in African Golden-breasted Bunting (Emberiza flaviventris) for Wolf-Dieter Busching

30.04.2024 - 11:06

Alexander Haase created the specimen 10073 in African Golden-breasted Bunting (Emberiza flaviventris) for Wolf-Dieter Busching

30.04.2024 - 11:03

Alexander Haase created the specimen 10072 in Cabanis's Bunting (Emberiza cabanisi) for Wolf-Dieter Busching

30.04.2024 - 11:01

Alexander Haase created the specimen 10071 in Lark-liked Bunting (Emberiza impetuani) for Wolf-Dieter Busching

30.04.2024 - 10:58

Alexander Haase created the specimen 10070 in Crested Bunting (Emberiza lathami) for Wolf-Dieter Busching

30.04.2024 - 10:56

Alexander Haase created the specimen 10068 in Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) for Wolf-Dieter Busching

30.04.2024 - 10:52

Alexander Haase created the specimen 10067 in Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) for Wolf-Dieter Busching

30.04.2024 - 10:50

Alexander Haase created the specimen 10066 in Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) for Wolf-Dieter Busching

30.04.2024 - 10:49

Alexander Haase created the specimen 10065 in Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) for Wolf-Dieter Busching

30.04.2024 - 10:47

Alexander Haase created the specimen 10064 in Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) for Wolf-Dieter Busching

30.04.2024 - 10:46

Alexander Haase created the specimen 10063 in Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) for Wolf-Dieter Busching

30.04.2024 - 10:44

Alexander Haase created the specimen 10062 in Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) for Wolf-Dieter Busching

30.04.2024 - 10:42

Alexander Haase created the specimen 10061 in Red-headed Bunting (Emberiza bruniceps) for Wolf-Dieter Busching

30.04.2024 - 10:40

Alexander Haase created the specimen 10060 in Yellow-breasted Bunting (Emberiza aureola) for Wolf-Dieter Busching

30.04.2024 - 10:38

Alexander Haase created the specimen 10059 in Yellow-breasted Bunting (Emberiza aureola) for Wolf-Dieter Busching

30.04.2024 - 10:29

Dawid Fikus created the specimen 10056 in Arctic Loon (Gavia arctica)

25.04.2024 - 22:27

Dawid Fikus created the specimen 10055 in Arctic Loon (Gavia arctica)

25.04.2024 - 22:11

Dawid Fikus created the specimen 10054 in Eurasian coot (Fulica atra)

25.04.2024 - 22:01

Dawid Fikus created the specimen 10053 in Eurasian coot (Fulica atra)

25.04.2024 - 21:58

Dawid Fikus created the specimen 10051 in Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus)

25.04.2024 - 21:24

Dawid Fikus created the specimen 10050 in Common or African Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)

24.04.2024 - 22:10

Dawid Fikus created the specimen 10049 in European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus)

24.04.2024 - 21:46

Dawid Fikus created the specimen 10048 in European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus)

24.04.2024 - 21:40

Dawid Fikus created the specimen 10047 in European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus)

24.04.2024 - 21:24

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