Heads or Tails
In the workshop today I’m working both – putting detail into beak and bottom!
I’m aiming to carve out the feather shapes in particular, a little on the wings, but especially on this bird’s rather elongated tail – the rump feathers are called rectrices. The primary role of these feathers is to assist with push and lift, thereby enabling flight, and also to act, if necessary, as a sort of brake and rudder.
The tail feathers of some birds have evolved to include other uses, such as territorial displays, courtship rituals or feeding methods. Hopefully I will develop the tail feathers into long, showy plumes suggesting my bird is capable of an irresistable performance to attract a mate.
2 Comments
love your birds!
I’ve spent today working on this bird, and watching curlews in the next field – I’m trying to work out how I can get their really long slender bill and legs! In the meantime tail feathers are coming along – thank you for loving my birds.