| Along the edge of the barb are numerous barbicels, we refer to them as Velcro hooks. |
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| Barbs can be separated from each other and smoothed back into place because barbules and barbicels act somewhat like a zipper. |
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| Two sets of barbules branch off from each barb and interlocked by means of tinier barbicels to give the feather great strength and smoothness. |
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| Their feathers lack functioning barbicels, and are thus similar to down on other birds and leave Silkies unable to fly. |
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| Often part of a bird's incessant cleaning routine is the straightening of wing primaries, which seems to help reattatch the barbicels so the wings remain fully functional. |
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| The barbules on these feathers, friction barbules, are specialized with large lobular barbicels that help grip and prevent slippage of overlying feathers and are present in most of the flying birds. |
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