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Information about Crest (bird)

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The cockatiel - an example of a crested bird species
The crest is a prominent feature exhibited by several bird and dinosaur species on their heads. Fleshy crests are called cockscombs (q.v.); this article discusses feather crests.

Generally used for display purposes, crests can be fixed or erectile, depending on the species. For example, Cockatoos and cockatiels possess crests which may be raised or lowered at will. Their crests are used to communicate with fellow members of their species, or as a form of defence to frighten away other species that approach too closely.

The crest is made up of semiplume feathers: a long rachis with barbs on either side. These are plumulaceous feathers, meaning that they are soft and bendable. In birds, these semiplumes are common along the head, neck, and upper back, and may be used for buoyancy and sensing vibrations.

Gallery


Citron-crested Cockatoo crest feathers (on 1cm grid)

Umbrella Cockatoo with semi-erect crest

Major Mitchell's Cockatoo

Northern Lapwing

Victoria Crowned Pigeon
Aves
Linnaeus, 1758

Orders

About two dozen - see section below

Birds (class Aves) are bipedal, warm-blooded, egg-laying vertebrate animals.
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Dinosauria *
Owen, 1842

Orders & Suborders
  • Ornithischia
  • Cerapoda
  • Thyreophora
  • Saurischia

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A cockscomb, cock's-comb, or (less commonly) coxcomb is a fleshy growth, caruncle, or crest on the top of the head of many gallinaceous birds, notably turkeys, pheasants, and domestic chickens. It is generally larger on males than on females.
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Display is a form of animal behaviour, linked to survival of the species in various ways. Some species use display as a form of courtship, with the male usually having a striking feature that is distinguished by colour, shape or size, used to attract a female.
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Cacatuidae
GR Gray, 1840

Subfamily

Microglossinae
Calyptorhynchinae
Cacatuinae

A cockatoo is any of the 21 bird species belonging to the family Cacatuidae.
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Nymphicus
Wagler, 1832

Species: N. hollandicus

Binomial name
Nymphicus hollandicus
(Kerr, 1792)


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rachis (pronounced /ˈɹeɪkɪs/) is the main axis of the inflorescence, or spike, of wheat and other cereals, to which the spikelets are attached. It is also the part of the axis that the pinnae are attached to in ferns, the main stem of a compound leaf (such as in
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C. s. citrinocristata

Trinomial name
Cacatua sulphurea citrinocristata
Fraser, 1844

The Citron-crested Cockatoo, Cacatua sulphurea citrinocristata
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C. alba

Binomial name
Cacatua alba
Müller, 1776

The Umbrella Cockatoo, Cacatua alba (also known as the White Cockatoo
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Lophocroa

Species: L. leadbeateri

Binomial name
Lophocroa leadbeateri
(Vigors, 1831)


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V. vanellus

Binomial name
Vanellus vanellus
(Linnaeus, 1758)


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G. victoria

Binomial name
Goura victoria
(Fraser, 1844)

The Victoria Crowned Pigeon, Goura victoria
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