What Part of the Bird Did Your Feather Come From?

You don't want to get pulled over for a traffic ticket or Fish and Wildlife check and get an big fine, and they are BIG! Those laws are an important part of protecting migratory birds, and even though it's a pain to figure out what is and isn't illegal the laws are super important to protect natural resources. It's really important that you educate yourself about what is and is not OK to own. This site also has a list of bird feathers that are OK to possess. More information on the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the list of MBTA-protected species can be found at. There is no exemption for molted feathers or those taken from road- or window-killed birds. This protects wild birds by preventing their killing by collectors and the commercial trade in their feathers, and extends to all feathers, regardless of how they were obtained. 'The possession of feathers and other parts of native North American birds without a permit is prohibited by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). I would be remiss if I didn't first warn you about possessing feathers, it's illegal for most birds. I'll include more information about that particular resource, but I wanted to start with a quick primer on the parts of a feather, and what you should be looking at when you find a feather and how to ID it.įeather ID can be tricky, there are many shapes and types of feathers (Photo: Wiki Commons). One of the most popular posts on this site has been about the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Feather Atlas. However, for many people they just like to look for neat things in the woods as they hike or seek solitude. I have a reason to collect, because I teach with what I find, so I don't just pick up stuff (and my institution has a permit for whatever I collect). If you're like me, you hike through the woods looking around for neat rocks, stones, shells, and feathers just like a magpie. Minnesota Hawks in this grouping are Cooper’s*, Sharp-shinned, Northern Goshawk (*shown).How Can I ID a Feather? Feather identification (Photo: Wiki Commons).Compacted size equips them for rapid maneuvering around trees in pursuit of small birds.Flight is burst of quick flutters and a glide.Minnesota hosts Broad winged, Red-shouldered, Swainson’s, Red-tailed*, Rough-legged and.Gain altitude by flying in consecutive tight circles until high enough to soar.Slow, heavy flaps for 3–6 beats followed by gliding.Wings are slightly raised in a V shape when gliding.Fly extremely low to the ground along landscape.Smooth, full wing beats with sudden drops to the ground to pounce on prey.Prefers wooded river swamps and pine lands.Minnesota hosts the Swallow-tailed Kite* (*shown).

Active fliers-bouncy without much gliding.

Minnesota hosts American Kestrel, Gyrfalcon, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, and Prairie Falcon.

Able to hover, change direction quickly and reach incredible speeds when diving.

Plunge feet first into the water and can completely submerge in order to catch fish.

Body and head bobs up and down with each pump.

Flap frequently with only occasional gliding.

Scavenge, don’t hunt-so not raptors by strict definition.

Wings raised in a noticeable V-shape when gliding.

Gliding, teeter totter-like flight pattern peppered with a few shallow wing beats.

Takes 4–6 years to develop adult white head & tail.

In flight: hold their wings directly out from the body.

In general, perching raptors sit upright, whereas non-raptors, such as crows, lean forward over their feet. General Habitat.Look at the general habitat and determine if it would be considered prairie, woodlands or roadside. Does the bird use “active flight”-meaning flapping wing beats-or does it primarily soar, glide or hover? Note the overall shape of the bird-shape of the head, wings, tail and body.įlight Habits. For one thing, juvenile birds don’t look like parent birds for at least a couple yearsĪnother complication: male and female birds of prey most often look identical, with only size to distinguish between the two (the female is typically larger than the male!).Complications aside, there are some key features you can look for when attempting to identify a raptor: Identifying raptors can be a tricky undertaking. The following is an introduction to identifying some of Minnesota’s more prevalent birds of prey. Most Minnesota raptors have plumage in some combination of earth tones to better blend in with their environment: light to dark brown, black and white or grayish blue. Minnesota raptors include eagles, falcons, hawks, kites, osprey, owls and vultures. The word “raptor” comes from a Latin term rapere meaning “to seize or grab.” All raptors share at least three characteristics: keen eyesight, eight sharp talons and a hooked beak. Share Trx_addons_twitter Trx_addons_facebook E-mailĪ raptor, also known as a bird of prey, is a carnivorous, meat-eating bird.

Predatory birds list