barbules

At right angles to the barbs are interlocking branchlets called barbules.

Birdology Sy Montgomery 2010

They look this way because normal feathers have barbules along the barbs (the individual branches off a feather) that hold the barbs together, sort of like velcro.

The Chicken Chronicles Sandra Knauf 2010

With thousands of small feathers that lie over each other like shingles on a roof, and with microscopic barbules on those feathers that interlock to form an impervious shield, penguins are well equipped for life at sea.

The Great Penguin Rescue Dyan DeNapoli 2010

Their feather shafts are hollow, and the feathers themselves, like strips of Velcro, are interlocking barbules for catching air.

Birdology Sy Montgomery 2010

The barbules have small hook-like processes called barbicels.

Birdology Sy Montgomery 2010

What really keeps water from seeping through their feathers to reach the skin are microscopic barbules on the feathers that lock together like Velcro, forming an impenetrable barrier.

The Great Penguin Rescue Dyan DeNapoli 2010

Hundreds of pairs of tiny barbules on each barb fit together like tiny strips of Velcro and give the feather its web-like quality.

Birdology Sy Montgomery 2010

Feathers with smooth barbules but no hooked barbules.

Blog Post: Conservapedia: A Laugh A Minute matt 2007

The hummingbird doesn't strip barbules AFAIK, but they do live up to their name...

Wondrous Feathers 2007

Together the results favor an evolutionary sequence of feather filaments splitting to form primitive barbs without barbules - radially symmetric downy feathers with plumulaceous barbs- bilaterally symmetric plumulaceous feathers - bilaterally symmetric pennaceous vanes - bilaterally asymmetric vanes Fig.

Catholic Church Supports Neo-Paleyism? - The Panda's Thumb 2005