* Contour feathers: The main feathers that give the bird its shape and streamline its body for flight.
* Down feathers: Soft, fluffy feathers that provide insulation and warmth.
* Flight feathers: Long, stiff feathers on the wings and tail that help the bird fly.
* Other specialized feathers: Like the bright, colorful feathers of a peacock or the bristle-like feathers around a bird's beak.
So, when someone talks about a bird's plumage, they're talking about its overall feathery covering, its feather coat.