Tom, you probably witnessed a robin that had just fright-molted his tail
feathers. This is pretty common among thrushes, but many small birds can do
this. It's a handy way of slipping away from a predator, but any alarming
encounter can cause it. I volunteer bird-band in the summer and we sometimes
take a chickadee out of its carrying bag and find a bunch of loose tail feathers
in the bag rather than on the bird. They can still fly, but may be more awkward
landing and maneuvering.

Chris Maack
Bird Treatment & Learning Center
Anchorage, AK
73201.3124 at compuserve.com

>>
.the robin landed on the other side of
the trunk. I got my bins and checked him out..no tail
feathers...I've seen robins with tailfeathers missing
but not one with no tail at all...is this something
usual?..some cat got a mouthful of feathers...he
dropped them all in an early molt..he never had any to begin
with.. hmmm-mmmmm...


Tom

Tom Foote
>>>
Tom

Tom Foote