Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In ornithology, of or pertaining to the uropygium or rump: as, uropygial feathers.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the uropygium, or prominence at the base of the tail feathers, in birds.
  • adjective a peculiar sebaceous gland at the base of the tail feathers in most birds. It secretes an oily fluid which is spread over the feathers by preening.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective ornithology Of or pertaining to the uropygium; on the rump.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From uropygium.

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Examples

  • Penguins have a special gland, called a uropygial gland, near the base of their stubby tails on the topside of their rumps, from which they get a light waxy substance that has the consistency of baby oil.

    The Great Penguin Rescue Dyan DeNapoli 2010

  • Their research is the first to demonstrate that birds transfer the colour pigments (carotenoids) from the secretions of their uropygial gland for cosmetic reasons.

    Flamingos Apply Natural Make-Up To Their Feathers To Attract Mates: Study Science Centric 2010

  • Their research is the first to demonstrate that birds transfer the colour pigments (carotenoids) from the secretions of their uropygial gland for cosmetic reasons.

    Flamingos Apply Natural Make-Up To Their Feathers To Attract Mates: Study The Huffington Post News Team 2010

  • Their research is the first to demonstrate that birds transfer the colour pigments (carotenoids) from the secretions of their uropygial gland for cosmetic reasons.

    Flamingos Apply Natural Make-Up To Their Feathers To Attract Mates: Study Science Centric 2010

  • Penguins have waterproof coats that need to be constantly maintainedthrough preening, when they use their bill to apply an oily substance secreted from the uropygial gland, atthe base of the tail.

    Black-footed penguin 2010

  • Feathers remain waterproof by constant preening during which an oily secretion containing a waxy substance, produced by a gland from the base of the tail (the uropygial gland), is applied over the feathers.

    Penguins 2010

  • The politically (and anatomically) correct term is pygostyle -- literally rump post -- for the structure of fused vertebra that anchors the turkey's magnificent tail feathers (rectrices) and also harbors the uropygial gland, source of preen oil, the yummy fat the bird uses to groom its plumage.

    Cold Turkey 2007

  • Our results also suggest that a preened body surface could be the common denominator that explains how AIV infection occurs in different taxonomic groups of aquatic birds and future studies are needed to determine the common uropygial component that could promote interaction with AIVs in all aquatic bird species.

    Daily News & Analysis 2010

  • Feathers remain waterproof by constant preening during which an oily substance (also containing wax), produced by the uropygial gland at the base of the tail, is applied to the feathers.

    Featured Articles - Encyclopedia of Earth 2010

  • Feathers remain waterproof by constant preening during which an oily secretion containing a waxy substance, produced by a gland from the base of the tail (the uropygial gland), is applied over the feathers.

    Featured Articles - Encyclopedia of Earth 2010

Comments

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  • pertaining to bird rumps.

    July 23, 2008