Forensic Techniques Identify the First Record of Snowy Owl (<i>Bubo scandiacus</i>) Feeding on a Razorbill (<i>Alca torda</i>)

Dove, Carla J.; Coddington, Charles P. J.

doi:10.1676/14-176.1

“…Our study found that the technique of dry mount followed by our study (Robertson et al 1984;Lee et al 2016) is best suited for mounting feather barbs for observation under light microscope. The technique of mounting the barb in medium (Dove & Coddington 2015) might chaperone the delicate microstructures of villi and hooklets, leading to faulty recording of observations. Systematic studies on feather morphology helps us understand the form and functions of feathers better as well as provide us better understanding of inter-species differences in feather structures.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although a handful of studies on feather examination have been reported over the years, still many questions regarding feather morphology have not been answered (Lee et al 2016). Morphological examination of feather structures in the present day has acquired importance in diverse range of disciplines such as phylogeny (Dove 1997a ;Bensch et al 2009), palaeontology (Messinger 1965;Dove et al 2010), archaeology (Harwood 2011), avian ecology (Galván 2011;Fairhurst et al 2013), wildlife forensics (Dove & Coddington 2015), biomechanics (Kulp et al 2018), and material sciences (Lingham-Soliar 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such studies elaborated more on species differentiation but created a considerable knowledge gap in the understanding of differential structural characteristics of various types of feathers present in an individual bird. Most of the previous studies on feather investigations have been conducted J TT either in bird species of northern America or Australia (Dove & Coddington 2015;Lee et al 2016). Very few minor reports have been published on birds of southern Asia (Songyan et al 1995;Lee et al 2010) and even fewer reports about feather morphology of bird species of Indian subcontinent has ever been published.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Identification of a unique barb from the dorsal body contour feathers of the Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura (Aves: Passeriformes: Pittidae)

Dey¹,

Ray²,

Sharma³

et al. 2021

J. Threat. Taxa

2

0

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Earlier research on feather morphology emphasized comprehensively on the body contour feather than various other types of feathers. Therefore, we conducted a systematic study on all feather types of the Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura, a passerine bird native to the Indian subcontinent. Feather barbs from wing contour, tail contour, body contour, semiplume, down, powder down, and bristle feathers were retrieved from the bird and observed under a light microscope. Primary flight feathers from the right and left wing were longest (85.17 mm and 87.32 mm, respectively), whereas bristle feathers were the shortest (5.31 mm). The mean barb length was observed to be the highest (11.37±0.47 mm) in the wing feather followed by body contour (8.31±0.39 mm), semiplume (8.27±0.22 mm), tail feather (7.85±0.50 mm), down (6.45±0.21 mm), powder down (6.04±0.23 mm), and bristle (2.70±0.07 mm). Pearson correlation was found positive for barb length and feather length of down feathers (r= 0.996, p ≤0.05). We observed a novel type of barb the first time from dorsal body contour feather having plumulaceous barbules at the base followed by pennaceous barbules. This unique barbule arrangement is termed ‘sub-plumulaceous’ as it is distinct and analogous to known ‘sub-pennaceous’ type arrangement found absent in passerines.

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Identification of a unique barb from the dorsal body contour feathers of the Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura (Aves: Passeriformes: Pittidae)

Dey¹,

Ray²,

Sharma³

et al. 2021

J. Threat. Taxa

1

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Earlier research on feather morphology emphasized comprehensively on the body contour feather than various other types of feathers. Therefore, we conducted a systematic study on all feather types of the Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura, a passerine bird native to the Indian subcontinent. Feather barbs from wing contour, tail contour, body contour, semiplume, down, powder down, and bristle feathers were retrieved from the bird and observed under a light microscope. Primary flight feathers from the right and left wing were longest (85.17 mm and 87.32 mm, respectively), whereas bristle feathers were the shortest (5.31 mm). The mean barb length was observed to be the highest (11.37±0.47 mm) in the wing feather followed by body contour (8.31±0.39 mm), semiplume (8.27±0.22 mm), tail feather (7.85±0.50 mm), down (6.45±0.21 mm), powder down (6.04±0.23 mm), and bristle (2.70±0.07 mm). Pearson correlation was found positive for barb length and feather length of down feathers (r= 0.996, p ≤0.05). We observed a novel type of barb the first time from dorsal body contour feather having plumulaceous barbules at the base followed by pennaceous barbules. This unique barbule arrangement is termed ‘sub-plumulaceous’ as it is distinct and analogous to known ‘sub-pennaceous’ type arrangement found absent in passerines.

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Microscopic Analysis of the Plumulaceous Feather Characteristics of Cathartiformes and Accipitriformes in North America

Coddington

¹

,

Dove

²

,

Luther

³

2022

Journal of Raptor Research

0

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Although variation in microscopic plumulaceous (downy) feather characters is known to be useful in taxonomic identifications of birds, the conserved characters unique to most avian orders remain understudied. We examined plumulaceous feather characters (morphometric and observed pigmentation patterns [qualitative]) within three avian families (Cathartidae, Pandionidae, Accipitridae) occurring in North America that often require taxonomic identification based on incomplete or fragmentary remains. We found significant quantitative differences among these three families for measurements of barbule length, node width, average number of nodes per barbule, and internode length. We observed additional differences in pigmentation patterns and spine distribution at nodes. Differences in pigment patterns and intensity are diagnostic for distinguishing Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) from Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) within Cathartidae. Further observed differences of a higher percentage of spined structures present at node junctions along the length of barbules are diagnostic of Pandionidae. Within Accipitridae, pigmentation patterns and pigment intensity separate Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus) and White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) from all other taxa; and barbule length, together with average nodes per barbule is unique to Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) in the families examined in this study. Although significant differences in a combination of microscopic feather characters among species were seldom observed in this study, family level differences were consistently documented. Results support the use of a suite of microscopic characters in combination with macroscopic feather features, geographic distributions, molecular methods, and other circumstantial evidence to aid in the identification of species of birds from feathers.

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Forensic Techniques Identify the First Record of Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) Feeding on a Razorbill (Alca torda)

Cited by 3 publications

References 8 publications

Identification of a unique barb from the dorsal body contour feathers of the Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura (Aves: Passeriformes: Pittidae)

Identification of a unique barb from the dorsal body contour feathers of the Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura (Aves: Passeriformes: Pittidae)

Identification of a unique barb from the dorsal body contour feathers of the Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura (Aves: Passeriformes: Pittidae)

Microscopic Analysis of the Plumulaceous Feather Characteristics of Cathartiformes and Accipitriformes in North America

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