Short tail feathers?

20 years ago

Are short tail feathers an indication of a juvenile? I have recently noticed a bird, about 2/3 of the size of an average female that has tail feathers only between 1/8 and 1/4 inch long. It seems to be able to maneuver with the best of them, (I don't see how it's brakes work) but almost always seems to return to the same general spot in one of my my Dad's pear tree. I could be where it fledged (the nest) or it's only drinking from the pear holes drilled by the redbellied woodpeckers. Could this be predation, or a birth defect? Or is it an indication of it's youth? Waiting to hear opinions.

Blessed, Dan

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Comments (4)

ltcollins1949
20 years ago
I don't have an answer for you, but I had a little hummer show up about two years ago with no tail feathers. It was strange looking, but he flew fine and used the feeders. Someone suggested that maybe a cat had gotten hold of his tail feathers, but I don't know if that was the case or not.
guitar_man_dan
Original Author
20 years ago
Mr. Collins, I am to be convinced that it is perhaps a genetic defect, as it's tail feathers haven't grown in the past 12 days. It seems to fight and feed with the best of them, although small. May I ask if you were born in 1949 like me. Good year!
Blessed, undeserving, Dan
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ltcollins1949
20 years ago
The little hummer that I had sure looked strange without tail feathers. I tried taking a picture of him, but it was not a good picture, so I can't post it.

Yes, I'm a 49er, and it's Ms. Collins! HA! Everyone thinks that I'm a man.
guitar_man_dan
Original Author
20 years ago
Sorry, Maam! when my son was around 4 or 5, everyone would tell him what a cute little girl he was when at Wal-Mart and such. Drove him crazy.
Blessed, and embarressed (I did think of that possiblity), Dan