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I am answering Mauro in a generalist way. I'm
sure there are exceptions to this comment:
Mostly feathers (other than just down or tiny
feathers), can be identified if there are several from one bird or some other
clue e.g. habitat, by colour pattern, in combination with shape and size.
Texture can be helpful, feathers from owls are immediately recognizable as they
are soft. Shape and size will indicate broad possibilities of the size range of
the bird and what part of the bird it is from, eg. you can immediately tell a
left primary from a right primary or a tail feather, regardless of what species
or colour pattern it is (ratites and penguins etc. excluded). Knowing which
feather it is you have ie. anatomically, can then lead you to matching the
colour pattern to likely suspects. Sometimes it is tricky and you need to
consult references or specimens. Often even isolated feathers are obvious as to
what part of what species they are. I can identify most of the feathers I come
across (other than just down or tiny feathers) often to species or to broader
levels eg. it would be hard to separate isolated feathers of
Lichenostomus honeyeaters or many seabirds which are not very
colourful. The reason I say several from one bird, is if you have feathers from
different parts of a bird, which can be worked out by shape, that greatly
increases the chance that there is diagnostic patterns available from colour
pattern alone.
Philip
-----Original Message-----
From:
Maurovic, Mauro (DHS) <>
To:
<>
Date:
Friday, 22 June 2001 12:01
Subject: RE: [BIRDING-AUS] Feathers
and the LAW .
One thing still intrigues me...how
does a prosecutor prove the feather is
from a specific Australian bird or
just a chook ? Mind you an emu feather is
a pretty good
giveaway.
DNA?
hmmm.....
Mauro
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