#420 In the studio: Bird anatomy, con't .

Please start this bird anatomy series with post #403, March 10.

While most birds, like the magpie shown at right, have predictable tail flight feather and covert sets, there are a few with unique tails.  

The peacock's (related to pheasants) tail or "train" is not the 

tail flight feathers but the upper tail covert feathers . . . they sport an eye-like pattern.

Roosters have a profusion of structured, decorative tail feathers that do not fall under any specific tail-shape category.
   

Why is this important to the bird artist?  The bird artist must not only know how the skeleton is arranged and how it articulates, but where the feather groups and sets originate . . . their size, shape. proportion, and function. 

Shade of Paradise 
13"H 23"W 11"D

Crowing Rooster II - wall hanging
22"H 14"W 8"D

Above is a picture of our bantam-cross rooster . . . beautiful, tiny, and mean!
Photo, copyright Sandy Scott