rhizoverbBeta
DictionarycovertCovering feather
noun

covert

A small feather covering the base of a bird's flight feathers.

The bird's covert overlaps the base of a longer flight feather.

Etymology
covertFrenchcover

French couvrir means to cover. Covert names a feather by what it does: it overlaps and covers the bases of larger feathers, making a smooth protective layer.

More examples

  • Several coverts were missing from the damaged wing.
  • The guide pointed to the upperwing coverts.
  • A pale covert stood out among darker feathers.

Forms

covert · coverts