Those small feathers are called _coverts_, because they cover over the roots of the rowers.

Those on top are the upper coverts; those underneath are the under coverts, or lining of the wings.

Now notice those two pretty bands of color across the Sparrow's wing.

You see one band is formed by the tips of the longest coverts, and the other band by the tips of the next longest coverts.

Those two rows of feathers are the greater and middle coverts, and all the smallest feathers, next to the front edge of the wing, are called lesser coverts.