Feathers (1 Viewer)

DMW

Well-known member

• Mar 28, 2013

• #1

I found these feathers, which were presumably plucked by a predator. Anybody like to take a guess at the species? To give an idea of scale, the longest feathers in the photo are c. 5cm long.

 

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nickderry

C'est pas ma faute, je suis anglais.

• Mar 29, 2013

• #2

I'd presume pheasant

 

DMW

Well-known member

• Mar 30, 2013

• #3

I can see why you would think of pheasant, but it's not that. This is a Palearctic species, but from a genus more familiar to North Americans.

 

Reuven_M

Well-known member

• Mar 31, 2013

• #4

Eurasian Wren?

 

DMW

Well-known member

• Mar 31, 2013

• #5

Not a Wren, either...in fact, not a passerine.

 

Adam W

Well-known member

• Mar 31, 2013

• #6

You've got me stumped with that one, How about Ruff?

 

Reuven_M

Well-known member

• Mar 31, 2013

• #7

Woodcock?

The only other species I can come up with that remotely match your description for range and genus are Little, Spotted and Baillon's Crake

 

DMW

Well-known member

• Mar 31, 2013

• #8

... you're getting very warm!

 

Adam W

Well-known member

• Mar 31, 2013

• #9

Ah Water Rail?

 

DMW

Well-known member

• Mar 31, 2013

• #10

Still warm, but no cigar. Remember, there are two parts to the Palearctic...

 

Jos Stratford

Eastern Exile

Staff member

• Mar 31, 2013

• #11

Swinhoe's Rail (Swinhoe's Crake)

Pretty good match HERE

 

Last edited: Mar 31, 2013

DMW

Well-known member

• Mar 31, 2013

• #12

That's right, Jos, the feathers are from a Swinhoe's Rail. This rather obscure NE Asian species is the sole Old World representative of the genus Coturnicops, the best-known species of which is the North American Yellow Rail.

 

Jos Stratford

Eastern Exile

Staff member

• Mar 31, 2013

• #13

Have to confess your clues led me to the exact species rather than an instant 'oh those are Swinhoe's Rail feathers'