Sensing　a　global　directional　cue　to　orient　cell　growth　is　crucial　in　tissue　morphogenesis.　An　anterior-posterior　gradient　of　Wnt　signaling　controls　the　helical　growth　of　feather　branches　(barbs),　and　thus　the　formation　of　bilateral　feathers.　However,　it　remains　unclear　how　the　keratinocytes　sense　this　gradient　and　orient　barb　growth.　Here,　we　show　that　in　chicken,　owing　to　feather　branching,　the　global　Wnt　gradient　is　subdivided　into　periodic　barbs.　Within　each　barb,　the　anterior　barbule　plate　cells　tilt　before　the　posterior　cells.　The　core　planar　cell　polarity　gene　Prickle1　is　involved,　as　knockdown　of　its　expression　resulted　in　no　cell　shape　change　and　no　barb　tilting.　Furthermore,　perturbation　of　the　Wnt　gradient　leads　to　diffusive　Prickle1　expression　and　loss　of　barb　orientation.　Finally,　the　asymmetric　distribution　of　Wnt6/Fzd10　is　coordinated　by　the　apical-basal　polarity　of　the　barbule　plate　keratinocytes,　which　is　in　turn　regulated　by　the　Par3/aPKC　machinery.　Our　data　elucidate　a　new　mechanism　through　which　the　global　Wnt　signaling　gradient　is　interpreted　locally　to　construct　complex　spatial　forms.