Hello again Tweeters.

I want to thank Scott Ray for sending me a link to the Slater Museum in
Tacoma's online collection of
bird wing images. ( And whoever put this collection together has my
gratitude as well!) This really helped me figure out which species these
feathers came from.
It was neither Downy nor Hairy Woodpecker. It turns out I have a collection
of Red-breasted Sapsucker feathers.

Here's how I can tell:

1. When I looked at both the Downy and the Hairy wings I noticed that the
white spots on both these species wing feathers were larger overall,
extended further across the feather and had fewer spots than those of my
feathers.

2. I also have one feather (seen in the center of the feathers in my photo)
that is the perfect example of the greater secondary coverts ( I think I
have that term right).

3. I also have a small piece of fluffy belly feather that has a touch of
creamy yellow to it. I had been puzzled by this feather and had thought
perhaps it was not from the same bird, having only thought of Downy and
Hairy as possibilities. This little feather would fit perfect on the belly
of a Red-breasted Sapsucker.

4. The size of my feathers are also a better match to the Sapsucker whose
primaries extend a bit longer in comparison to the secondaries. As well as
the perfect size match of the greater secondary coverts.

I'm really glad I found these feathers, it made me brush up on my anatomy as
well as giving me a fun puzzle to solve!

Here is a link to the sapsucker wing online:
http://digitalcollections.ups.edu/cdm-slaterBirdWing/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/slaterBirdWing&CISOPTR=5490&CISOBOX=1&REC=1

Here is the Downy wing:
http://digitalcollections.ups.edu/cdm-slaterBirdWing/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/slaterBirdWing&CISOPTR=7067&CISOBOX=1&REC=7

Here is the Hairy wing:
http://digitalcollections.ups.edu/cdm-slaterBirdWing/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/slaterBirdWing&CISOPTR=5941&CISOBOX=1&REC=7

And here is the link once again to my photo:
http://picasaweb.google.com/MnMKirschner/FeathersAndStuff#5292125222940329858


Maurie Kirschner (Seattle)
mnmkirschner at gmail dot com