Domestic Chicken (White Leghorn variety)

A classic white body feather from a domestic chicken. These feathers provide insulation and give the bird its overall shape. The White Leghorn, a common source of such feathers, is a sleek bird known for its upright posture and large red comb.

Uniformly stark white; lacks melanin pigments or structural iridescence; consistent white coloration on both dorsal and ventral surfaces

Mixed: Pennaceous at the distal tip (interlocked) and highly plumulaceous (fluffy) at the base with soft, loose barbs

Soft, downy, and flexible; matte surface with a silky feel at the plumulaceous base; lacks the stiffness of flight remiges

Pure white color, high ratio of plumulaceous (downy) barbs relative to the tip, and a thin, flexible white rachis

Agricultural lands, backyard farms, and rural domestic environments

Globally distributed; found on all continents except Antarctica primarily as a domesticated species

Domesticated species; serves as a food source for numerous predators (foxes, hawks, coyotes) and as a major source of protein for humans

White Pekin Duck (stiffer, more waterproof), Cattle Egret (straighter, different legal status), or Snow Goose (much larger and stiffer)

Chickens were domesticated over 7,000 years ago from the Red Junglefowl of Southeast Asia. White feathers are often favored in industry because they do not leave spots on the skin of processed birds.

Fair condition; shows significant separation of barbs (unzipped) and minor fraying at the tip, suggesting it was molted or pulled naturally