A bird of prey relies on it’s feathers for it’s ultimate survival. There are other qualities and features involved of course but out of all of them, good, healthy, durable feathers are a must. This has to be why some birds like this Coopers Hawk, spend so much time tending to their feathers. The act of preening, basically involves the bird running it’s beak down the shaft from the base towards the tip. When they do this the fine filaments of the feather lock and line up in place again. They’ll do this mostly on the flight feathers of the tail and wings, but a little sprucing up on the body never hurt a bird’s good looks either.