uropygial gland – Mia McPherson's On The Wing Photography

Short-eared Owl Preening Session

By Mia McPherson|May 30th, 2016|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Short-eared Owls, Utah|Tags: adult, Asio flammeus, auditory canal, birds of prey, contorted, ear canal, eyes, male, owls, Owls of Utah, preening, preening gland, Short-eared Owl, squinting, talons, uropygial gland|

I was able to see and photograph a long Short-eared Owl preening session where I could see the owl's ear canal, uropygial gland and some extremely interesting and twisted poses.

Preening Cliff Swallow and a short video of the flock

By Mia McPherson|May 12th, 2015|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Cliff Swallows, Utah, Video|Tags: bird photography, Cliff Swallow, perched, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota, preening, preening gland, swallows, uropygial gland, video|

The Cliff Swallows at Bear River National Wildlife Refuge are busy catching bugs and building nests but they do take time out to preen and fluff like this one did yesterday.

Long billed Birds and Preening

By Mia McPherson|March 7th, 2014|Categories: American Oystercatchers, American White Pelicans, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Long-billed Curlews, Roseate Spoonbills|Tags: American Oystercatcher, American White Pelican, curlew, curlews, Haematopus palliatus, long bill, long bills, Long-billed Curlew, Numenius americanus, oystercatcher, oystercatchers, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, pelican, pelicans, Platalea ajaja, preening, Roseate Spoonbill, shorebirds, spoonbill, spoonbills, uropygial gland, wading birds|

Preening in birds is essential for keeping their feathers clean, arranged correctly and for some birds it is a way to distribute oils from the uropygial gland which helps to keep the feathers clean and healthy.