As you view these and other photos of eagle feathers, note some of the following characteristics.
- Color; generally speaking Golden Eagle feathers are not dark black but a deep, dark brown. Only the youngest of Goldens' feathers are the deepest of black.
- Rakus; a.k.a. the center quill of a feather. On top, there is a white stripe that stretches up to a point within the dark portion. On the back side of the feather the rakus is not white but speckled and blotchy with dark brown coloring. This is seen best in the two photos on top right.
- Ogive; the curve of the feather from tip around the side. These feathers have a characteristic curve that many feather producers don't pay attention to or even try to replicate.
- Lack of White; the general idea most people have of a Golden Eagle tail is white with black tip. There aren't any white parts to these feathers. They are off-white or dun.
- Spots and Shading; most feathers have spotting and shading. The spots are usually in elongated ovals, sometimes with a pointed end, pointing the quill end. Not many feather producers take time to create this detail beyond a spattering with a paint brush. Most importantly, note the darker section comes lower on one side of the feather. This side is known as the leading edge.
- Uneven widths; webbing on each side of the rakus is different in width. The thinner side is generally referred to as the leading edge while the wider side is the trailing edge.
- Size; contrary to what people think, eagle feathers are not the size of baseball bats. While they are generally wider than other feathers, they aren't necessarily super long. It is best to search for the largest feathers possible for reproduction feathers. Extra large, white turkey feathers are very difficult to find but do the best you can. Sorting through pounds of feathers is the general practice of the more experienced feather painter.
|
|