Tail covers

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Eurasian jay (preparation) with clearly visible, white upper tail-coverts and rump feathers
Bright yellow under-tail-coverts of a gray wagtail

The coverts ( Tectrices caudales ) are the coverts , the upper side ( dorsal basal part of) and the under side (ventral) feathers of the bird cover. The upper tail coverts ( Tetrices dorsalis caudae ) extend in rows that overlap like roof tiles to the rump gland , the lower tail coverts ( Rectrices ventralis caudae ) to the anus . The middle tail-coverts are usually larger than the outer ones.

The tail covers differ from the control feathers in that they are softer and have a thicker dune base. While the upper tail-coverts are slightly curved dorsally, the under-tail coverts are usually comparatively narrow with a slightly S-shaped curved keel and a very extensive base.

The number of large tail coverts can, depending on the family group, correspond to the number of control feathers, be smaller or larger:

Usually the tail covers are shorter than the control feathers. But there are species in which they are just as long or protrude far beyond them. The “wheel” of the Asian peacocks is not formed by the control feathers, but by the extremely elongated upper tail coverts. On the other hand, the miracle sylph belonging to the hummingbirds , in which they tower over the entire bird like a pennant, is a special example of elongated under tail coverts.

Often the tail-coverts alone or together with other parts of the plumage (e.g. rump or plumage on the underside) form contrasting colored parts, which have a signal effect during courtship or when flying off. In the case of the goshawk , for example, the bright white under-tail-coverts are spread apart during courtship flight, which is also known as "flags". In the black grouse they are set up in a fan shape during courtship and contrast with the otherwise predominantly black plumage.

The tail covers are also often used as a determinant. For example, the very similar sister species nightingale and sprout can be distinguished on the basis of the under- tail covers , and these also offer an important distinguishing feature for the nuthatches .

  • The "wheel" of the peacocks consists of the extremely elongated upper tail-coverts, which clearly protrude beyond the control springs (in the picture above, in the middle)

  • Pennant-like under tail coverts of the miracle sylph

  • The yellow rump and tail-coverts of a golden pheasant

  • During courtship, black cocks show off their white under- tail covers

  • Blue tail coverts on this year's bee-eater

literature

  • Wolf-Dieter Busching: Introduction to plumage and plucking. Aula-Verlag, Wiebelsheim 2005, ISBN 3-89104-695-2 , p. 93.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b c Wolf-Dieter Busching: Introduction to plumage and plucking. Aula-Verlag, Wiebelsheim 2005, ISBN 3-89104-695-2 , p. 93.
  2. ↑ Einhard Bezzel: Ornithology. (= Uni-Taschenbücher. 681). Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 1977, ISBN 3-8001-2445-9 , p. 21.
  3. ↑ Urs N. Glutz von Blotzheim , KM Bauer: Handbuch der Vögel Mitteleuropas . Volume 4: Falconiformes. AULA-Verlag, Wiesbaden 2001, ISBN 3-923527-00-4 , p. 466.
  4. ↑ Urs N. Glutz von Blotzheim, KM Bauer: Handbuch der Vögel Mitteleuropas . Volume 5: Galliformes - Gruiformes. AULA-Verlag, 2001, ISBN 3-923527-00-4 , p. 152.
  5. ↑ Urs N. Glutz von Blotzheim, KM Bauer: Handbuch der Vögel Mitteleuropas . Volume 11 / I: Passeriformes (2nd part): Turdidae. AULA-Verlag, Wiesbaden 2001, ISBN 3-923527-00-4 , p. 104.
  6. ↑ Urs N. Glutz von Blotzheim, KM Bauer: Handbuch der Vögel Mitteleuropas . Volume 13 / II: Passeriformes (4th part): Sittidae - Laniidae. AULA-Verlag, Wiesbaden 2001, ISBN 3-923527-00-4 , p. 822.