I agree with some of Philip's suggestions below. In many cases microscopic
examination of down from body feathers is more useful for determining the
order the bird belongs to than flight feathers. Down microcharacters of
Falconiformes are quite different from Acciptriformes and Strigiformes and
this can narrow down the possibilities before using flight feathers for the
final species identification.
Alison R
-----Original Message-----
From: Philip Veerman <>
Sent: Sunday, 17 November 2019 4:01 PM
To: 'Alison' <>; 'COG List'
<>
Subject: possible ID please
That is an interesting pattern. Were the feathers actually attached? Or
could they be from different things. I wonder if they could be remains of
more than one bird. For example from a plucking post for a raptor or
Powerful Owl? The middle sized barred brown feathers look like any of
several raptors, (Brown Falcon, Brown Goshawk, C Sparrowhawk are good
suspects), the smaller ones look like the pattern of a Boobook. Are the
smaller ones soft and fluffy to feel? The one large feather is the hardest
to match with the others. If I saw that by itself I think I would suggest
from a Pied Currawong. Maybe could all be from a particularly large,
particularly dark Brown Falcon.
Philip
-----Original Message-----
From: Alison
Sent: Sunday, 17 November, 2019 3:17 PM
To: 'COG List'
Subject: possible ID please
Is anyone able to identify these feathers please?
I found a bird carcass (feathers and bone only) on top of a low growing
conifer. The feathers were mostly black but also included some with mottled
pattern. The bird was larger than a magpie. Long black (wing?) feathers were
around 33 cms.
Thanks
Alison
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