This species differs from greater sage-grouse in size (smaller; Hupp and Braun, 1991), breeding plumage of males (prominent feathery
filoplumes), and tail barring pattern (Young et al., 2000).
Caught prey can be felt by owls with the use of
filoplumes - small hair-like feathers on the beak and feet that act as 'feelers'.
He added that the auklets' crests evolved from
filoplumes, long hair- or thread-like feathers that lack normal feather structures and are attached to pressure-sensitive cells so they can detect touch.