Feather "Dumping"

[texastailfeathers]

In the world of grass parakeets there is a phenomenon we call a "feather dump" or "feather drop". A frightened bird will suddenly "drop" feathers from its tail. Splendid parakeets (aka scarlet-chested) are notorious for their feather drops, and feather drops are also quite common in bourkes.

However, I've never read any good scientific explanations. I wonder if it is a response similar to a lizard's tail dropping off. Does anyone else have experience with this phenomenon in their birds? :shrug: (Perhaps we could post this somewhere that owners of other species will also see it...?)

[Shirley]

Cats do this, too. They lose a ton of fur when really frightened or stressed.

[texastailfeathers]

I wonder why....... :scratchch Would it be possible to cross-post this to Dr. C's column?

[Shirley]

Here you go!

Behavioral Ecology (http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/17/6/1046)

I must say, the rump feathers of a Bourke's come out so easily, stressed or not, you can barely tug on a clump of them and out they come. Not even a tug, just a very light pulling pressure, and they come out.

[Shirley]

I moved it and left a 1-month redirect.

[texastailfeathers]

I must say, the rump feathers of a Bourke's come out so easily, stressed or not, you can barely tug on a clump of them and out they come. Not even a tug, just a very light pulling pressure, and they come out.

Hehe...very true...I found that out the hard way. :D I grabbed a new bird suddenly and without warning her (just wasn't thinking) and her entire tail fell out in my hand. I thought something was seriously wrong with my bird, when really I had just frightened her. :doh:

[Sir Frederick]

However, I've never read any good scientific explanations. I wonder if it is a response similar to a lizard's tail dropping off. Does anyone else have experience with this phenomenon in their birds?

i would suggest that is exactly what it is :scratchch ... a very basic response from the bird to escape or avoid a threat or attack, just as a lizard or gecko would to avoid predation from birds :omy: (woodpigeons also do it in the wild if a sparrowhawk grabs hold of it :rolleyes: - the sparrowhawk thinks it's caught something but, the pigeon escapes unharmed) - and as a birds tail is in effect, a modified "ancient" raptors tail - no reason why that "security" should ever have evolved out :scratchch :beerchug: