The uropygial gland of Columba livia was studied using standard histochemical and lectin-histochemical methods. Acidic mucins, neutral lipids, glycolipids and phospholipids were normal components of the tubular secretion. The use of lectins showed the distribution of glycoconjugates in the normal secretion. There were no differences between males and females. The uropygial secretion was a mixture of lipid and carbohydrate compounds, the composition of which varied according to the stage of cellular differentiation and secretion formation.