Pectoral Plumes

Those long, wispy feathers forming a "beard" on the neck/breast of a Great Blue Heron are called pectoral plumes. They are ornamental feathers that grow during breeding season, along with two other types of plumes 7: • Occipital plumes — the black pin plumes projecting from the back of the head • Scapular plumes — soft plumes on the wings • Pectoral plumes — the elegant, wispy feathers forming the beard-like appearance on the breast These plumes are most spectacular in spring during breeding season 7. Interestingly, herons also have special feathers called powder down — these never moult, instead fraying continuously from the end while growing from the base, producing a fine powder the heron uses to absorb and remove slime and oil from its feathers. -- Brave Browser research