Phil, I cannot speak to Australian birds, but here in Arizona, the Cactus
wren will expel its tail feathers when frightened or held by the tail. I
have captured Cactus Wrens that got into the house and most always ended up
with a handful of tail feathers.
Does this method of survival exist with some Australian birds?
At 08:44 PM 11/5/97 +0800, you wrote:
>Hi to all,
> Is there someone who could help me with a query I have about the
>fifteen or twenty Bar-shouldered Doves that inhabit my backyard and nearby
>environs. Over the last few months I have noticed three birds on separate
>occasions that have apparently moulted their tail feathers completely. Two
>birds had no tail feathers at all and the third only had a minute part of
>one of its tail feathers showing.
>Is this normal in Bar- shouldered Doves, or has the normal moult
>malfunctioned in some way or is some avian disease the possible cause?
>Originally I thought that B/S Doves were the only birds affected but the
>other day I saw a Brown Honeyeater also without a tail. So if it is a
>disease, is it local or does it occur elsewhere?
>Phil Joy
>P O Box 21
>Broome
>W A 6725
>
>
Good Birding
Dick Wood
Tucson, AZ
32-16'-53.5" 111-04'-22.5"
En la tierra del sol y el cactus saguaro
http://www.azstarnet.com/~pawood/index.htm
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