The following feathers make up the typical bird's wing:
- Primaries – Elongated flight feathers that grow out from the end of the wings (the 'hand' area of the wing). Birds typically have 9-10 primaries.
- Secondaries – Long flight feathers positioned just behind the primaries and grow out from the 'forearm' area of the wing. Many birds have six secondary feathers.
- Tertials – Three flight feathers that are closest to the bird's body along the wing, located next to the secondaries.
- Remiges – A term used to refer to primaries, secondaries, and tertials together.
- Greater primary coverts – Feathers that overlap the base of the primaries.
- Greater secondary coverts – Feathers that overlap the base of the secondaries.
- Median secondary coverts – Feathers that overlap the base of the greater secondary coverts.
- Lesser secondary coverts – Feathers that overlap the base of the median secondary coverts.
- Alula – The feathers that grow from the 'thumb' area of the wing on the leading edge of the wing.
- Primary projection – The section of the primaries that, when the wing is folded, project beyond the tips of the tertials and sit at an angle towards the tail.
- Underwing coverts – Located on the underside of the wing, underwing coverts create a lining at the base of the flight feathers.
- Auxillaries – Also located on the underside of the wing, the auxilliaries cover the 'armpit' area of the bird's wing, smoothing the area where the wing meets the body.
Refs:
Sibley, D.A. 2002. Sibley's Birding Basics. New York: Alfred A. Knopf
