The uses of coverts

[Geoffrey Dabb <>]

One often sees/hears ‘coverts’ referred to in descriptions of bird plumages eg ‘ear coverts’ which (naturally enough) cover the ear.  Some ear coverts are visually prominent as in the Stri Thorn.  A few weeks ago I snapped a fledgling NH Honeyeater at JWNR which had not yet grown its ear coverts, allowing an unusual view of the actual ear. An unpleasant  thing for a fledgling honeyeater would be a small insect (perhaps a flying midge) getting into the exposed ear.