Primary feather vane asymmetry should not be used to predict the flight capabilities of feathered fossils

2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (18) ◽  
pp. 1227-1228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xia Wang ◽  
Robert L. Nudds ◽  
Colin Palmer ◽  
Gareth J. Dyke
Keyword(s):  
Primary Feather

scholarly journals A revision of bird skin preparation aimed at improving the scientific value of ornithological collections

2021 ◽  
pp. 175815592098715
Author(s):  
José Carrillo-Ortiz ◽  
Santi Guallar ◽  
Jessica Martínez-Vargas ◽  
Javier Quesada
Keyword(s):  
The Body ◽  
Biological Knowledge ◽  
Specimen Preparation ◽  
Preparation Technique ◽  
Tarsus Length ◽  
Skin Preparation ◽  
Primary Feather ◽  
Preparation Methods ◽  
Wing Chord ◽  
Scientific Value

The methods used to preserve bird skins in museums have a potentially crucial impact on the feasibility and use of these specimens as a source of biological knowledge, although this subject is rarely broached. Study skins of birds are usually prepared with folded wings and straight legs to facilitate storage in the collection; yet, this method can hamper the measurement and examination of certain important features such as wing-feather moult. To make consultation easier for ornithologists, alternative preparation methods such as the splitting of wings and tarsi from the rest of the animal have been proposed by curators. Our aim was to study whether or not preparing bird specimens with spread limbs makes consultation simpler. First, we used two different methods to prepare two specimens each of two common European passerine species: (1) ‘traditional’ (folded wings and straight tarsi) and (2) ‘spread’ (limbs spread on one side of the body). Then, we asked 22 experienced ornithologists to identify moult limits and take three biometric measurements (wing chord, length of the third primary feather and tarsus length) from all four specimens. Subsequently, we asked which preparation method they preferred for obtaining data. The ‘spread’ preparation was preferred for moult, third primary feather length and tarsus length, whilst the ‘traditional’ preparation was preferred for wing chord. Data obtained from the folded and spread preparations were very highly repeatable within each method but only moderately to highly repeatable between methods. One of the handicaps with the ‘spread’ preparation is the increase in storage space required, a factor that should be taken into account before it is employed. Nevertheless, this specimen preparation technique can greatly facilitate consultation and therefore improve the scientific value of ornithological collections.

Progress of Primary Feather Molt of Adult Mourning Doves in Missouri

1970 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth C. Sadler ◽  
Roy E. Tomlinson ◽  
Howard M. Wight
Keyword(s):  
Primary Feather ◽  
Mourning Doves ◽  
Feather Molt

Primary feather lengths may not be important for inferring the flight styles of Mesozoic birds

Lethaia ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
NICHOLAS R. CHAN ◽  
GARETH J. DYKE ◽  
MICHAEL J. BENTON
Keyword(s):  
Primary Feather

scholarly journals New evidence of feathers in the Crato Formation supporting a reappraisal on the presence of Aves

2011 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 197-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana M. Sayão ◽  
Antonio A.F. Saraiva ◽  
Angelica M.K. Uejima
Keyword(s):  
Late Jurassic ◽  
Primary Feather ◽  
The World ◽  
Large Bird ◽  
New Evidence ◽  
Previous Existence

The preservation of delicate structures such as feathers is very rare in the paleontological record, due to the fragility of their components. Fossil feathers have been reported from approximately 50 deposits around the world, from the Late Jurassic to the Pleistocene. In Brazil initial findings consisted of a primary feather of a large bird found in the Tremembé Formation. Other occurrences are preserved in the Crato Formation, where several symmetrical and one single asymmetrical feather was found. Based on three new specimens and reassessing further feather occurrences we cannot confirm the presence of volant Aves in this deposit. The presence of an asymmetrical feather without barbules and hooks hints at the previous existence of a flightless animal within this deposit, possibly a flightlessness bird or a non-avian theropod. Conversely, the presence of a feather from morphotype II present in Tyrannosauroidea, Compsognathidae, Therizinosauroidea and Dromeosauridae, points to a non-theropod origin. Since there are no confirmed records of birds and other feathered archosaurs in the region to date, more evidence is required to identify the animal from which these structures originated.

Effect of ectoparasitism by larvae of the blow fly Protocalliphora parorum (Diptera: Calliphoridae) on nestling House Wrens, Troglodytes aedon

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 1441-1446 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Scott Johnson ◽  
Marjorie D. Eastman ◽  
L. Henry Kermott
Keyword(s):  
Parasite Load ◽  
Blow Fly ◽  
Tarsus Length ◽  
Troglodytes Aedon ◽  
Primary Feather ◽  
North Central ◽  
House Wrens ◽  
Delayed Development

We investigated the effect of ectoparasitism by hematophagous larvae of the blow fly Protocalliphora parorum on nestling House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon) over 2 years in north-central Wyoming, U.S.A. Approximately 85% of wren nests contained P. parorum larvae. Mean parasite load was approximately 10 larvae per nestling. Nestling tarsus length, primary feather length, and hematocrit measured just before fledging did not differ significantly with parasite load. However, parasitized birds weighed approximately 8% more than unparasitized birds just prior to fledging. Parasites possibly delay the recession in weight that normally occurs as tissues mature late in the nestling stage. Delayed development may result in increased nestling or fledgling mortality.

Influence of date of egg production and diet on pheasant chick development

1973 ◽  
Vol 51 (11) ◽  
pp. 1149-1154
Author(s):  
V. G. Thomas ◽  
E. D. Bailey
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Energy Levels ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Tarsal Bone ◽  
Experimental Diet ◽  
Primary Feather ◽  
Growth Increase ◽  
Chick Development

Ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus cokhicus) chicks were hatched at weekly intervals for 14 weeks from eggs laid by hens fed two diets of different protein and energy levels. Chicks from each hatch were subjected to two different nutritional planes by feeding them a control diet yielding 2.91 kcal of metabolizable energy per gram and 23.7% protein, and an experimental diet yielding 1.88 kcal of metabolizable energy per gram and 14.3% protein. Weight of the chicks at hatching, and three indices of growth, increase in body weight, length of the tarsal bone, and length of the seventh primary feather, were taken during the first 3 weeks of life. Weights of day-old chicks and their rates of development were unrelated to the chronology of egg production, the sex of chicks, and the diets fed to the parent hen. Differences between rates of development of the chicks were attributed to differences between the amount of protein and energy metabolized from their diets.

scholarly journals Revision of some mensural measurements, food preference, and haematological parameters in breeding pairs of blue rock pigeon, Columba livia sampled from punjab Pakistan

2023 ◽  
Vol 83 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. W. Aslam ◽  
M. Wajid ◽  
A. Waheed ◽  
S. Ahmad ◽  
K. Jafar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Food Preference ◽  
Columba Livia ◽  
Feeding Preference ◽  
Chest Circumference ◽  
Haematological Parameters ◽  
Gut Contents ◽  
Primary Feather ◽  
Haematological Profile ◽  
Rock Pigeon

Abstract The present study describes the haematological profile, feeding preference, and comparison of morphometric characters of blue rock pigeon (Columba livia) breeding pairs. For this purpose, 25 pairs (25 samples per sex) were sampled through Mist nets from district Okara and Bahawalnagar, Punjab, Pakistan. Birds were then anaesthetized with a combination of ketamine HCL (10 mg/kg) and diazepam (0.2 mg/kg) and subjected to morphometric measurements. 5µL blood also was taken from the jugular vein of each anaesthetized bird for haematological analysis. Few pairs were also dissected to remove gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) for food preferences. Results revealed that there are no significant differences in the haematological parameters and feeding preference of breeding pairs of Columba livia. The gut analysis further revealed, the major portion of gut contents consisted of pea and corn in most of the pairs. Regarding the mensural measurements, significant differences were recorded in the body weight, length of the longest primary feather, and chest circumference, whereas the rest of the studied parameters remain nonsignificant between sexes. So, it is concluded that apart from 3 morphometric parameters (body weight, length of longest primary feather and chest circumference), both sexes are alike in term of morphometry, haematology and food preference.

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