canberrabirds

Check those scapulars (1)

To: "" <>
Subject: Check those scapulars (1)
From: Philip Veerman <>
Date: Sat, 3 Jun 2017 11:32:26 +0000

Another thing very odd about the feathers of a Darter, is that other than the wing and tail feathers, on these birds, all the others are very minimal in structure. They look shaggy. There is not much evidence of the overlapping tile style that most birds have, in any of their body feathers of the Darter (presumably the Anhingidae generally).

 

From: Geoffrey Dabb [
Sent: Saturday, 3 June, 2017 12:28 PM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] Check those scapulars (1)

 

A wettish darter drying itself at Jerra Ck appeared to have a double set of wings.  This, it appears, was due to a feature HANZAB describes as belonging to the Anhingidae generally: ‘Erectile, striped, lanceolate scapulars prominent on breeding birds.’  This bird at rest, with half-closed wings, is able to ‘erect’ (if that is the word) a single long feather with its base enclosed in a sheath of many smaller ones – quite a bizarre effect.  I have looked at photos of other anhingas without seeing anything quite as extreme as this.  I have a related photo taken on another occasion I’ll inflict on you in a moment   

 

 

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
Admin

The University of NSW School of Computer and Engineering takes no responsibility for the contents of this archive. It is purely a compilation of material sent by many people to the Canberra Ornithologists Group mailing list. It has not been checked for accuracy nor its content verified in any way. If you wish to get material removed from the archive or have other queries about the list contact David McDonald, list manager, phone (02) 6231 8904 or email . If you can not contact David McDonald e-mail Andrew Taylor at this address: andrewt@cse.unsw.EDU.AU