Bird species with most feathers?

                                                                                                 Photo: Ian Duffy

The EMPEROR PENGUIN
(Aptenodytes fosteri)

In the decades I've been a birder I've never asked myself which bird species has the most feathers ... until today.   Now I know.   According to Mary McCann at BirdNote, penguins can claim the current feather record, because they have a multitude of small feathers all over their bodies, and the bigger the bird - the more feathers.   The largest penguin species is the Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes fosteri).   One project counted 80,000 feathers on a single bird (nearly 60 per square inch).  That should keep them warm and dry in the harshest of cold climates.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder