Some terms used for the feathers of poultry are identical to those used for feathers of other birds, while others are specific to poultry. They include:
Feather Description Notes Image Beard Feathers projecting below the beak only in bearded breeds Crest Feathers projecting upwards from the head only in crested breeds Ear tufts Feathers projecting from the earprimarily found in the Araucana breed Flight coverts Short feathers covering the base of the primaries and secondaries Fluff The soft feathers on the underside of the bird Lesser sickles Long curved feathers of the tail, below the sickles only in cock birds Main tail feathers The long straight feathers forming the tail, under the tail coverts Muff Feathers projecting below and around the eyes only in bearded breeds Neck hackles The long feathers of the neck Neck hackles on pictured individual are mottled black and cream. The longest and outermost feathers of the wing Saddle feathers Feathers covering the back or saddle before the tail coverts; in cocks they are long and pointed divided into upper and lower saddles Scapulars Short feathers on the upper side of the wing near the body Secondaries The long flight feathers of the inner part of the wing Sickles The two longest curved feathers of the tail only in cock birds Tail coverts Short feathers covering the base of the main tail feathers in cocks, and most of the tail in hens Vulture hocks Stiff feathers projecting downwards behind the leg only in some breeds. Cochin breed, pictured, has visible white vulture hocks. Wing bar Short feathers covering the base of the secondaries and of the flight coverts Wing bow coverts Short feathers covering the upper part of the wing between the scapulars and the wing bar
References J. Ian H. Allonby, Philippe B. Wilson (editors) (2018). British Poultry Standards: complete specifications and judging points of all standardized breeds and varieties of poultry as compiled by the specialist breed clubs and recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain, seventh edition. Chichester; Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley Blackwell. , pages 13–14.
Victoria Roberts (2009). British Poultry Standards, 6th edition. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons. , pages 13–14.
Pam Percy (2006). The Field Guide to Chickens, 6th edition. St. Paul, MN: Voyageur Press. , pages 53–57.