Getty Images A diverse range of feathers enable birds to exploit different roles from attracting mates, to hovering or floating But flight was just one highly successful experiment with feathers.

They use their wings to swim underwater instead. There are lots of different types of birds and they all have feathers, a beak, two legs and two wings just like Sophie the barn owl. Penguins are ...

and they are a type of reptile. Birds may look different than some of the dinosaurs you see in the movies, but many species of dinosaurs had feathers and resembled the feathered animals we see today.