Flight feather#Primaries

As primaries ( remiges primarii ) the outer large, strong and stable feathers of the bird's wing are called. They sit on the metacarpal bone ( Carpometacarpus ) and the bone of the third and second finger of the wing.

The number of fully trained primaries is usually ten, maximum 11 (eg grebes ). For some groups of birds such as the sparrow birds the outermost primary feather is significantly reduced. Regardless will often additionally formed at the tip of the second finger a small spring, the Remicle.

Numbering is generally of the wrist ( Carpalgelenk ) outwards, ie from proximal ( proximal ) to the distal (distal) area. The length of the bones of the hand wing in relation to the total wing length is used as a measure of the performance of the bird while flying at hand wing index.

The length of the primaries is initially greater outward and then again significantly smaller. The location of the longest spring depends on the flight type and is located between the fifth (eg chickadees ) and ninth (eg swifts ) primary feather. In general, the springs are pointed from the inside to the outside. The springs are clearly asymmetrically shaped. The outer lugs are narrower from the inside towards the outside, the inner webs wider. In many bird species, the outer primaries show in the upper part for aerodynamic reasons strong indentations on the outer and / or inner webs (see picture of the hawk feathers).