chipster454
Well-known member
Also while at Combers Beach, I saw some Dowitchers. Based on the barring on the tail (White appears as thick as the black), I think the one in the back is a Short-Billed Dowitcher?
Not sure exactly what you mean here... tertials? greater coverts? (Flight-feathers normally means primaries and secondaries.)orange outlined flight feathers
Tertials and scapulars on this bird it looks like... I often use "flight feathers" to refer to any feathers belonging to the wings. Whether this is appropriate or not, I am not sure, but it makes sense to me intuitively. I use the term "flight feathers" this way because I am unaware of another more precise term or phrase that refers to the collective general grouping of wing feathers.Not sure exactly what you mean here... tertials? greater coverts? (Flight-feathers normally means primaries and secondaries.)
Just 'wing feathers' is the term for that 👍🏻I am unaware of another more precise term or phrase that refers to the collective general grouping of wing feathers.
FWIW, it's specifically the tertials where this matters. And it's about whether they have "tiger stripes" inside (i.e. it's not about the edges to the feathers).Tertials and scapulars on this bird it looks like... I often use "flight feathers" to refer to any feathers belonging to the wings. Whether this is appropriate or not, I am not sure, but it makes sense to me intuitively. I use the term "flight feathers" this way because I am unaware of another more precise term or phrase that refers to the collective general grouping of wing feathers.
Agreed that the tiger striped tertials are the most obvious distinction. However, I believe there is a difference in appearance with the orange outlined scapulars/mantle. I’ve never critically analyzed it because it just looks noticeably different but I think juvenile LB have darker centers to those feathers outlined in orange. The “scaly” look of juvenile SB is much accentuated by the tiger striped tertials though. It is fair to draw all the attention to the tertials because this will secure the ID.FWIW, it's specifically the tertials where this matters. And it's about whether they have "tiger stripes" inside (i.e. it's not about the edges to the feathers).
Anyways, agree on ID 👍
It appears that according to the opus link, the term “Flight Feathers” is to include the tertials, but it does not specify that it includes scapulars. This all seems unnecessarily technical and arbitrary to me. Why does this not apply to all wing feathers? They are after all flight feathers, even if they are not “Flight Feathers”. I do appreciate an opportunity to discuss this. I’m always open to learning to be more technically correct, but it does leave a little confusion still.Just 'wing feathers' is the term for that 👍🏻
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Correct, yes. Tertials are the innermost secondaries - so, flight-feathers = secondaries (including tertials) + primaries. Scapulars are not included.“Flight Feathers” is to include the tertials, but it does not specify that it includes scapulars
Certainly one may have one's personal feelings about what specific words might best and most-intuitively be used to describe certain feather-tracts, but... there's no confusion in the current widespread accepted usage. As defined above, the term is explicit and unambiguous....it does leave a little confusion still
The field guides, from memory, say tertials.Not sure exactly what you mean here... tertials? greater coverts? (Flight-feathers normally means primaries and secondaries.)