plumage
n.the feathers of a bird. You use this word to describe the color and pattern of a bird's feathers, especially when they look very beautiful.
n.the feathers of a bird, especially when arranged in a particular pattern or coloration. Often used to describe the ornamental display of feathers used in courtship or territorial behavior.
“The peacock's colorful plumage is very impressive.”
“During the mating season, the male bird develops bright plumage to attract a partner.”
“The ornithologist noted that the bird's iridescent plumage served as a primary defense mechanism against predators, reflecting light in a way that made it difficult to track.”
“Its warm brown feathers are replaced with crisp black-and-white plumage, perfectly suited to a life on the open ocean.”
“Birders learn to identify species through careful observation of field marks – for example, a bird’s unique plumage, size and shape – as well as a bird’s behaviors, vocalizations and surrounding habitat.”
From Old French plumage (14c.), itself from plume (“feather”) (from Latin plūma (“feather, down”), from a Proto-Indo-European base *plews- (“to pluck, a feather, fleece”) + -age.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.