[obol] Feather structure, MOUNTAIN QUAIL

[Larry McQueen]

Pat,

I believe you are referring to the aftershaft, or afterfeather, which is
found in many birds.  It's a smaller plume attached to the base of a contour
(body) feather and especially prevalent in grouse and other gallinaceous
birds.  I don't know what function it has beyond adding insulation.

Larry McQueen


-----Original Message-----
From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org
[mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Pat Waldron
Sent: Friday, June 06, 2008 1:22 PM
To: OBOL
Subject: [obol] Feather structure, MOUNTAIN QUAIL

Dear Folks,

	Finding feathers after a hawk attack, especially when a MOUNTAIN  
QUAIL was the victim, has been interesting because of the difference  
in their feather structure. I have seen this enough now, that it is  
definitely MOUNTAIN QUAIL (MOQU). The flank feathers are two feathers  
in one. The proximal end, the point of attachment to the body, is one  
shaft, but two different feathers emerge. The longest feather a has  
soft dark gray downy structure, and the distal end has the rich red  
rufous color from their flanks. The second feather coming from the  
same shaft is 3/4 as long and is all downy, dark gray, and there is a  
slight twist to it.

	I have seen this structure in only one other bird, the EMU. All the

feathers I found in a friend's pasture ( a rescue operation) had this  
structure, 2 feathers, one shaft.

	Questions:
	
	Is this a winter time downy coat that is shed in summer?

	Does this define some genetic association?

	Does this occur with other birds?

	Thank you,

	Pat Waldron
	East of Scio
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