A gland at the base of a bird's tail, which produces the oil used in preening.
〔鸟〕（尾）羽脂腺
Example sentencesExamples
This gap made it difficult for the bird to seal and waterproof that area with the oils from his preen gland.
More work is needed on the function and distribution of preen glands in Rock Doves and across other species of birds.
However, perhaps the plumage of birds with preen glands is more resilient to abrasion from preening.
Our results provide the first rigorous evidence that the preen gland is important for plumage condition in birds other than waterfowl.
Preening behaviors in birds-including bathing in water or dust and coating feathers with oils from preen glands are commonly thought to improve feather condition.
Definition of preen gland in US English:
preen gland
noun
Ornithology
(on a bird) a gland at the base of the tail that produces the oil used in preening.
〔鸟〕（尾）羽脂腺
Example sentencesExamples
Our results provide the first rigorous evidence that the preen gland is important for plumage condition in birds other than waterfowl.
Preening behaviors in birds-including bathing in water or dust and coating feathers with oils from preen glands are commonly thought to improve feather condition.
However, perhaps the plumage of birds with preen glands is more resilient to abrasion from preening.
More work is needed on the function and distribution of preen glands in Rock Doves and across other species of birds.
This gap made it difficult for the bird to seal and waterproof that area with the oils from his preen gland.