{"schema":"https://ver.cy/schemas/card/1.0.0","id":"vr.tr.feather","code":"thing-q81025","url":"https://ver.cy/models/thing/q81025/","name":"feather","alternateNames":["ostrich plume","hummingbird feather","semiplume feather","contour feather","scapular feather","axillary feather","remex","pennaceous feather","peacock feather","filoplume","Hackles","covert feather"],"kind":"thing","status":"published","version":"0.2.0-wave.2","language":"en","classifiers":{"family":"Thing Registry","category":"Physical world and living systems","entryKind":"thing","plane":"PHY","domain":["PHY.LIV"],"industry":[],"navPath":"","tags":[],"facets":{}},"whatItIs":"A feather is a keratinous epidermal growth forming part of the body covering of some dinosaurs, including birds, with structures ranging from simple filaments to branched forms, some with a central shaft and vanes of barbs; living birds have contour, flight, down, semiplume, filoplume and bristle feathers, including specialised ostrich plumes and iridescent hummingbird feathers, serving functions such as flight, insulation, waterproofing and display, undergoing moult and replacement, and used by people for clothing, bedding, writing and ornament under wildlife protection laws.","purpose":"Let an agent explain feather structure and types, describe functions and moulting, support identifying feathers within legal limits, and describe human uses and regulations.","scope":{"in":[],"out":[],"boundaries":[]},"distinguishingFeatures":["Keratin structure","Multiple types","Flight and insulation","Moulted"],"structure":{"bundles":[{"id":"understand","name":"Understand","description":"Feather biology.","layers":[{"id":"structure","name":"Structure","description":"Structure and types.","findings":[{"id":"structure-finding","name":"Structure","description":"Structure.","questions":[{"text":"How are feathers structured, and how do contour, flight, down, semiplume, filoplume and bristle feathers differ?","kind":"definition"},{"text":"How do colours and iridescence arise?","kind":"definition"}]}]},{"id":"functions","name":"Functions","description":"Functions and moult.","findings":[{"id":"functions-finding","name":"Functions","description":"Functions.","questions":[{"text":"How do feathers enable flight, insulation, waterproofing and display, and how does moulting work?","kind":"definition"},{"text":"How did feathers evolve, according to palaeontologists?","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]},{"id":"identify","name":"Identify","description":"Identifying feathers.","layers":[{"id":"identify","name":"Identify","description":"Which bird.","findings":[{"id":"identify-finding","name":"Identify","description":"Identification.","questions":[{"text":"How can a found feather be identified using shape, size, pattern and reference atlases?","kind":"action"},{"text":"Is possession of this feather legal here?","kind":"boundary"}]}]},{"id":"law","name":"Law","description":"Wildlife law.","findings":[{"id":"law-finding","name":"Law","description":"Law.","questions":[{"text":"Which laws restrict possessing, selling or importing feathers of protected birds?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which entry fits wildlife protection?","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"use","name":"Use","description":"Human uses.","layers":[{"id":"uses","name":"Uses","description":"Uses of feathers.","findings":[{"id":"uses-finding","name":"Uses","description":"Uses.","questions":[{"text":"How have feathers been used for bedding, clothing, quills, fishing flies and ornament, and which rules govern trade?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"What are welfare standards for down?","kind":"provenance"}]}]},{"id":"culture","name":"Culture","description":"Feathers in culture.","findings":[{"id":"culture-finding","name":"Culture","description":"Culture.","questions":[{"text":"What roles do feathers play in cultural and ceremonial traditions, described in the terms of those communities?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Is the presentation respectful?","kind":"boundary"}]}]}]},{"id":"learn","name":"Learn","description":"Teaching and care.","layers":[{"id":"teach","name":"Teach","description":"Teaching feathers.","findings":[{"id":"teach-finding","name":"Teach","description":"Teaching.","questions":[{"text":"How can feather structure and function be taught with specimens and microscopy?","kind":"action"},{"text":"Which misconceptions arise?","kind":"provenance"}]}]},{"id":"birds","name":"Birds","description":"Feather health in birds.","findings":[{"id":"birds-finding","name":"Birds","description":"Bird care.","questions":[{"text":"What do feather problems indicate in pet and wild birds, and when is a veterinarian needed?","kind":"boundary"},{"text":"Which entry fits bird care?","kind":"action"}]}]}]}]},"agentConduct":{"may":["Describe feather types, structure and functions for study or identification.","Help identify the bird a found feather probably came from, noting uncertainty."],"mustNot":["Help collect, sell or trade feathers of protected species in breach of wildlife law.","Encourage disturbing nesting birds or harming birds to obtain feathers.","Present a feather identification as certain when it is only probable.","Ignore hygiene advice when handling feathers from dead or sick wild birds."],"requiresHuman":["Keeping or moving feathers of species that may be protected."]},"ethics":{"considerations":["Trade in feathers drove some birds toward extinction and is still controlled.","Feathers carry cultural and sacred meaning for some peoples."],"affectedParties":["Wild birds","Communities holding feathers as sacred","People with feather allergies"]},"owners":{"steward":"The person who keeps one lawfully; wildlife authorities regulate feathers of protected species.","roles":[],"masterSystems":[]},"relations":[{"target":"Q112826975","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"},{"target":"Q1239288","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"},{"target":"Q40397","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"},{"target":"skin appendage","type":"related","note":"category"},{"target":"tissue","type":"related","note":"category"},{"target":"bird","type":"related","note":"feather bearers"},{"target":"flight","type":"related","note":"a principal function"}],"interaction":{"identity":{"applicability":"required","items":["Vercy registry: vr.tr.feather","Wikidata: Q81025 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q81025)"]},"properties":{"applicability":"required","items":["Feather length:  mm - Measured from the base to the tip, with variation by species and feather type.","Dry mass:  mg - Measured using a sensitive balance after conditioning the feather at a stated humidity.","Maximum width:  mm - Measured across the widest span of the naturally arranged barbs without stretching them."]},"recognition":{"applicability":"required","items":["Feather structure varies, with a central shaft and vanes present in some types.","Feathers are unique to birds among living animals.","Fur and scales are other integument types.","A shaft with vanes of interlocking barbs, in many colours."]},"capabilities":{"applicability":"required","items":["explain structure and types","describe functions and moult","support identification within legal limits","describe uses and regulations"]},"hazards":{"applicability":"required","items":["Illegal possession of protected feathers","Disease transmission from wild feathers","Allergies to feather products"]},"interfaces":{"applicability":"required","items":["Wildlife laws restricting possession of feathers of protected birds","Trade rules for feathers and down","Animal welfare standards for down production"]},"context":{"applicability":"required","items":["The covering of birds.","contour and flight feathers","down and semiplume feathers","filoplumes and bristles","display plumes","feathers of specific birds such as ostrich and hummingbird"]}},"sources":[{"title":"Wikidata item Q81025: feather","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q81025","note":"identity and sense of the item"},{"title":"Wikipedia: Feather","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feather","note":"general description of the item"}],"openQuestions":["Should each feather type be a separate entry?","How should wildlife laws be linked?","How should identification resources be linked?"],"resources":{"spec":"/models/things/publications/thing-q81025/spec.json"},"provenance":{"origin":"thing registry research (pass 2)","builtFrom":["models/things/publications/thing-q81025/spec.json"],"providers":["Claude"],"researchStatus":"unreviewed","generatedAt":"2026-09-11T23:51:37Z","builder":"tools/build_cards.py@1.0.0"},"completeness":{"sections":{"classifiers":"filled","whatItIs":"filled","purpose":"filled","distinguishingFeatures":"filled","structure":"filled","agentConduct":"filled","ethics":"filled","owners":"filled","relations":"filled","interaction.identity":"filled","interaction.properties":"filled","interaction.recognition":"filled","interaction.capabilities":"filled","interaction.hazards":"filled","interaction.interfaces":"filled","interaction.context":"filled","sources":"filled"},"notes":{"_gate":"Published through the thing publication gate 1.0 on 2026-10-07T12:16:34+00:00: completeness 1.00; sense: Wikidata description; 2 live sources; review by codex: pass"},"score":1.0}}