What is the word to describe a bird organizing its feathers?

.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty{ margin-bottom:0;
}

up vote
16
down vote

favorite

Which verb most accurately and commonly describes a bird's daily behavior to make its feathers clean and organized.

"organize" its feathers

"brush" its feathers

"clean" its feathers?

edited Nov 29 at 15:51

choster

36.2k1481132

asked Nov 23 at 21:03

cdhit

813

Thanks for the fantastic question, new user. Just for your information, we have a special tag for this - SWR. The site is famous for it!
– Fattie
Nov 24 at 4:20

2

as is 'to plume'
– lbf
Nov 24 at 14:49

add a comment |

up vote
16
down vote

favorite

Which verb most accurately and commonly describes a bird's daily behavior to make its feathers clean and organized.

"organize" its feathers

"brush" its feathers

"clean" its feathers?

edited Nov 29 at 15:51

choster

36.2k1481132

asked Nov 23 at 21:03

cdhit

813

Thanks for the fantastic question, new user. Just for your information, we have a special tag for this - SWR. The site is famous for it!
– Fattie
Nov 24 at 4:20

2

as is 'to plume'
– lbf
Nov 24 at 14:49

add a comment |

up vote
16
down vote

favorite

Which verb most accurately and commonly describes a bird's daily behavior to make its feathers clean and organized.

"organize" its feathers

"brush" its feathers

"clean" its feathers?

edited Nov 29 at 15:51

choster

36.2k1481132

asked Nov 23 at 21:03

cdhit

813

Which verb most accurately and commonly describes a bird's daily behavior to make its feathers clean and organized.

"organize" its feathers

"brush" its feathers

"clean" its feathers?

single-word-requests verbs animal

edited Nov 29 at 15:51

choster

36.2k1481132

asked Nov 23 at 21:03

cdhit

813

edited Nov 29 at 15:51

choster

36.2k1481132

asked Nov 23 at 21:03

cdhit

813

edited Nov 29 at 15:51

choster

36.2k1481132

edited Nov 29 at 15:51

choster

36.2k1481132

edited Nov 29 at 15:51

choster

36.2k1481132

asked Nov 23 at 21:03

cdhit

813

asked Nov 23 at 21:03

cdhit

813

asked Nov 23 at 21:03

cdhit

813

Thanks for the fantastic question, new user. Just for your information, we have a special tag for this - SWR. The site is famous for it!
– Fattie
Nov 24 at 4:20

2

as is 'to plume'
– lbf
Nov 24 at 14:49

add a comment |

Thanks for the fantastic question, new user. Just for your information, we have a special tag for this - SWR. The site is famous for it!
– Fattie
Nov 24 at 4:20

2

as is 'to plume'
– lbf
Nov 24 at 14:49

Thanks for the fantastic question, new user. Just for your information, we have a special tag for this - SWR. The site is famous for it!
– Fattie
Nov 24 at 4:20

as is 'to plume'
– lbf
Nov 24 at 14:49

add a comment |

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

up vote
49
down vote

The verb is to preen:

[ I or T ] If a bird preens or preens itself, it cleans and arranges its feathers using its beak.

(Cambridge Dictionary)

enter image description here

preening macaw parrot

From (blog.parrotessentials.co.uk)

edited Nov 23 at 21:15

answered Nov 23 at 21:04

user240918

24.1k967146

1

A question. An answer. This mustn't be the internet.
– Fattie
Nov 24 at 4:18

undeleted now ?
– lbf
Nov 29 at 14:10

@lbf - apparently so, not by myself, though.
– user240918
Nov 29 at 14:16

add a comment |

up vote
3
down vote

To preen is the primo answer. OED provided by @user240918

intransitive. Of a bird: to tend its feathers with its beak,
arranging, cleaning, and generally maintaining them.

consideration to alternatives:

to plume OED

b. Of a bird: to preen or trim (the feathers or wings). Also fig.
(frequently with the suggestion of preparation for something, as a
bird preens prior to flight).

As in:

1998 Anchorage (Alaska) Daily News (Nexis) Delap admired the bird
as it clambered out on the ice and plumed its feathers ...

to groom OED

transitive. Of an animal: to clean the skin, hair, etc., of (another
of its family or group). Also reflexive: to clean and tidy itself.

As in: Social Psychology google books

If all birds in an interacting population were to operate on a rule of
uncontingent altruism, things would go well for them; each individual
would sometimes bear the costs of grooming and sometimes enjoy the
benefits of being groomed.

edited Nov 29 at 14:30

answered Nov 24 at 15:19

lbf

16.6k21561

Why discount preen? It is the primo answer...
– Jim
Nov 24 at 18:33

1

@Jim I agree! 46 upvotes ... then it's deleted!
– lbf
Nov 24 at 19:20

1

Oh! I see. Was on my phone so didn’t see the deleted answer. :-). I have voted to undelete.
– Jim
Nov 24 at 19:24

add a comment |

Your Answer

StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "97"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});

function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});

}
});

draft saved

draft discarded

Sign up or log in

StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});

Post as a guest

Name

Required, but never shown

StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f474242%2fwhat-is-the-word-to-describe-a-bird-organizing-its-feathers%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);

Post as a guest

Name

Required, but never shown

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

up vote
49
down vote

The verb is to preen:

[ I or T ] If a bird preens or preens itself, it cleans and arranges its feathers using its beak.

(Cambridge Dictionary)

enter image description here

preening macaw parrot

From (blog.parrotessentials.co.uk)

edited Nov 23 at 21:15

answered Nov 23 at 21:04

user240918

24.1k967146

1

A question. An answer. This mustn't be the internet.
– Fattie
Nov 24 at 4:18

undeleted now ?
– lbf
Nov 29 at 14:10

@lbf - apparently so, not by myself, though.
– user240918
Nov 29 at 14:16

add a comment |

up vote
49
down vote

The verb is to preen:

[ I or T ] If a bird preens or preens itself, it cleans and arranges its feathers using its beak.

(Cambridge Dictionary)

enter image description here

preening macaw parrot

From (blog.parrotessentials.co.uk)

edited Nov 23 at 21:15

answered Nov 23 at 21:04

user240918

24.1k967146

1

A question. An answer. This mustn't be the internet.
– Fattie
Nov 24 at 4:18

undeleted now ?
– lbf
Nov 29 at 14:10

@lbf - apparently so, not by myself, though.
– user240918
Nov 29 at 14:16

add a comment |

up vote
49
down vote

The verb is to preen:

[ I or T ] If a bird preens or preens itself, it cleans and arranges its feathers using its beak.

(Cambridge Dictionary)

enter image description here

preening macaw parrot

From (blog.parrotessentials.co.uk)

edited Nov 23 at 21:15

answered Nov 23 at 21:04

user240918

24.1k967146

The verb is to preen:

[ I or T ] If a bird preens or preens itself, it cleans and arranges its feathers using its beak.

(Cambridge Dictionary)

enter image description here

preening macaw parrot

From (blog.parrotessentials.co.uk)

edited Nov 23 at 21:15

answered Nov 23 at 21:04

user240918

24.1k967146

edited Nov 23 at 21:15

answered Nov 23 at 21:04

user240918

24.1k967146

answered Nov 23 at 21:04

user240918

24.1k967146

answered Nov 23 at 21:04

user240918

24.1k967146

1

A question. An answer. This mustn't be the internet.
– Fattie
Nov 24 at 4:18

undeleted now ?
– lbf
Nov 29 at 14:10

@lbf - apparently so, not by myself, though.
– user240918
Nov 29 at 14:16

add a comment |

1

A question. An answer. This mustn't be the internet.
– Fattie
Nov 24 at 4:18

undeleted now ?
– lbf
Nov 29 at 14:10

@lbf - apparently so, not by myself, though.
– user240918
Nov 29 at 14:16

A question. An answer. This mustn't be the internet.
– Fattie
Nov 24 at 4:18

undeleted now ?
– lbf
Nov 29 at 14:10

@lbf - apparently so, not by myself, though.
– user240918
Nov 29 at 14:16

add a comment |

up vote
3
down vote

To preen is the primo answer. OED provided by @user240918

intransitive. Of a bird: to tend its feathers with its beak,
arranging, cleaning, and generally maintaining them.

consideration to alternatives:

to plume OED

b. Of a bird: to preen or trim (the feathers or wings). Also fig.
(frequently with the suggestion of preparation for something, as a
bird preens prior to flight).

As in:

1998 Anchorage (Alaska) Daily News (Nexis) Delap admired the bird
as it clambered out on the ice and plumed its feathers ...

to groom OED

transitive. Of an animal: to clean the skin, hair, etc., of (another
of its family or group). Also reflexive: to clean and tidy itself.

As in: Social Psychology google books

If all birds in an interacting population were to operate on a rule of
uncontingent altruism, things would go well for them; each individual
would sometimes bear the costs of grooming and sometimes enjoy the
benefits of being groomed.

edited Nov 29 at 14:30

answered Nov 24 at 15:19

lbf

16.6k21561

Why discount preen? It is the primo answer...
– Jim
Nov 24 at 18:33

1

@Jim I agree! 46 upvotes ... then it's deleted!
– lbf
Nov 24 at 19:20

1

Oh! I see. Was on my phone so didn’t see the deleted answer. :-). I have voted to undelete.
– Jim
Nov 24 at 19:24

add a comment |

up vote
3
down vote

To preen is the primo answer. OED provided by @user240918

intransitive. Of a bird: to tend its feathers with its beak,
arranging, cleaning, and generally maintaining them.

consideration to alternatives:

to plume OED

b. Of a bird: to preen or trim (the feathers or wings). Also fig.
(frequently with the suggestion of preparation for something, as a
bird preens prior to flight).

As in:

1998 Anchorage (Alaska) Daily News (Nexis) Delap admired the bird
as it clambered out on the ice and plumed its feathers ...

to groom OED

transitive. Of an animal: to clean the skin, hair, etc., of (another
of its family or group). Also reflexive: to clean and tidy itself.

As in: Social Psychology google books

If all birds in an interacting population were to operate on a rule of
uncontingent altruism, things would go well for them; each individual
would sometimes bear the costs of grooming and sometimes enjoy the
benefits of being groomed.

edited Nov 29 at 14:30

answered Nov 24 at 15:19

lbf

16.6k21561

Why discount preen? It is the primo answer...
– Jim
Nov 24 at 18:33

1

@Jim I agree! 46 upvotes ... then it's deleted!
– lbf
Nov 24 at 19:20

1

Oh! I see. Was on my phone so didn’t see the deleted answer. :-). I have voted to undelete.
– Jim
Nov 24 at 19:24

add a comment |

up vote
3
down vote

To preen is the primo answer. OED provided by @user240918

intransitive. Of a bird: to tend its feathers with its beak,
arranging, cleaning, and generally maintaining them.

consideration to alternatives:

to plume OED

b. Of a bird: to preen or trim (the feathers or wings). Also fig.
(frequently with the suggestion of preparation for something, as a
bird preens prior to flight).

As in:

1998 Anchorage (Alaska) Daily News (Nexis) Delap admired the bird
as it clambered out on the ice and plumed its feathers ...

to groom OED

transitive. Of an animal: to clean the skin, hair, etc., of (another
of its family or group). Also reflexive: to clean and tidy itself.

As in: Social Psychology google books

If all birds in an interacting population were to operate on a rule of
uncontingent altruism, things would go well for them; each individual
would sometimes bear the costs of grooming and sometimes enjoy the
benefits of being groomed.

edited Nov 29 at 14:30

answered Nov 24 at 15:19

lbf

16.6k21561

To preen is the primo answer. OED provided by @user240918

intransitive. Of a bird: to tend its feathers with its beak,
arranging, cleaning, and generally maintaining them.

consideration to alternatives:

to plume OED

b. Of a bird: to preen or trim (the feathers or wings). Also fig.
(frequently with the suggestion of preparation for something, as a
bird preens prior to flight).

As in:

1998 Anchorage (Alaska) Daily News (Nexis) Delap admired the bird
as it clambered out on the ice and plumed its feathers ...

to groom OED

transitive. Of an animal: to clean the skin, hair, etc., of (another
of its family or group). Also reflexive: to clean and tidy itself.

As in: Social Psychology google books

If all birds in an interacting population were to operate on a rule of
uncontingent altruism, things would go well for them; each individual
would sometimes bear the costs of grooming and sometimes enjoy the
benefits of being groomed.

edited Nov 29 at 14:30

answered Nov 24 at 15:19

lbf

16.6k21561

edited Nov 29 at 14:30

answered Nov 24 at 15:19

lbf

16.6k21561

answered Nov 24 at 15:19

lbf

16.6k21561

answered Nov 24 at 15:19

lbf

16.6k21561

Why discount preen? It is the primo answer...
– Jim
Nov 24 at 18:33

1

@Jim I agree! 46 upvotes ... then it's deleted!
– lbf
Nov 24 at 19:20

1

Oh! I see. Was on my phone so didn’t see the deleted answer. :-). I have voted to undelete.
– Jim
Nov 24 at 19:24

add a comment |

Why discount preen? It is the primo answer...
– Jim
Nov 24 at 18:33

1

@Jim I agree! 46 upvotes ... then it's deleted!
– lbf
Nov 24 at 19:20

1

Oh! I see. Was on my phone so didn’t see the deleted answer. :-). I have voted to undelete.
– Jim
Nov 24 at 19:24

Why discount preen? It is the primo answer...
– Jim
Nov 24 at 18:33

@Jim I agree! 46 upvotes ... then it's deleted!
– lbf
Nov 24 at 19:20

Oh! I see. Was on my phone so didn’t see the deleted answer. :-). I have voted to undelete.
– Jim
Nov 24 at 19:24

add a comment |

draft saved

draft discarded

Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!

Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

But avoid …

Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.

To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.

Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.

Please pay close attention to the following guidance:

Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

But avoid …

Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.

To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.

draft saved

draft discarded

Sign up or log in

StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});

Post as a guest

Name

Required, but never shown

Post as a guest

Name

Required, but never shown

Sign up or log in

StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});

Post as a guest

Name

Required, but never shown

Sign up or log in

StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});

Post as a guest

Name

Required, but never shown

Sign up or log in

StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});

Post as a guest

Name

Required, but never shown

Name

Required, but never shown

Name

Required, but never shown

This page is only for reference, If you need detailed information, please check here

搜尋此網誌

Ytukyg