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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Page 1 of 2 1 2 a night at the optera? #158017 03/29/06 07:22 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,819 Spam Factory A Alex Williams OP Pooh-Bah OP Alex Williams Pooh-Bah A Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,819 Spam Factory Is there a word that describes birds' wings that have individual finger-like projections of feathers at the ends, as seen on eagles and other birds of prey? example 1, an eagle example 2, a turkey vulture Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: a night at the optera? #158018 03/29/06 07:55 PM Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,154 British Columbia, Canada Z Zed Pooh-Bah Zed Pooh-Bah Z Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,154 British Columbia, Canada I don't know the word for it but I once told a tourist that you could recognize eagles in flight because "they have feathers on their wings" and got a very odd look. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: a night at the optera? #158019 03/29/06 08:21 PM Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 3,467 Marion NC TEd Remington Carpal Tunnel TEd Remington Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 3,467 Marion NC The large individual feathers are called pinions. So I guess a bird like that would be a pinionated. Drat. I just could not say that with a straight face, could I? TEd Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: a night at the optera? #158020 03/29/06 08:40 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 6,511 lower upstate New York AnnaStrophic Carpal Tunnel AnnaStrophic Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 6,511 lower upstate New York Quote: The large individual feathers are called pinions. So I guess a bird like that would be a pinionated. Drat. I just could not say that with a straight face, could I? Guess not. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: a night at the optera? #158021 03/29/06 10:16 PM Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,788 Seattle, Washington, USA Father Steve Carpal Tunnel Father Steve Carpal Tunnel Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,788 Seattle, Washington, USA The tailfeathers of eagles and turkey vultures are referred to collectively as "the rack." Thus, these birds, in flight, are a natural example of rack and pinion steering. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter shake a tail feather #158022 03/29/06 10:28 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,819 Spam Factory A Alex Williams OP Pooh-Bah OP Alex Williams Pooh-Bah A Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,819 Spam Factory So if an Englishman exclaims "Look at the rack on that bird!" he's merely making an ornithological remark, but if an American says it, he's observing a different sort of tail altogether. Apologies to the gutter police. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: shake a tail feather #158023 03/29/06 10:49 PM Joined: May 2002 Posts: 1,529 Aladamnbama the most watered s... T themilum veteran themilum veteran T Joined: May 2002 Posts: 1,529 Aladamnbama the most watered s... True, Alex, but naughty. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: a night at the optera? #158024 03/29/06 11:41 PM Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 3,467 Marion NC TEd Remington Carpal Tunnel TEd Remington Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 3,467 Marion NC Quote: The tailfeathers of eagles and turkey vultures are referred to collectively as "the rack." Thus, these birds, in flight, are a natural example of rack and pinion steering. Well, look on the bright side. It won't earn you a suspension. Some time on the wheel perhaps, but you'd just shrug it off since you're de fender of de faith. Or does that come as a shock? oaugi0gnkoi hioahiot/. Ooops. Garbled transmission. TEd Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: a night at the optera? #158025 03/29/06 11:44 PM Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont hubba hubba formerly known as etaoin... Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: a night at the optera? #158026 03/30/06 02:33 AM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Jackie Carpal Tunnel Jackie Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Is there a word that describes birds' wings that have individual finger-like projections of feathers at the ends, as seen on eagles and other birds of prey? I have heard them informally referred to as flanged. FLIGHT FEATHERS: large stiff feathers on the end joint of a bird's wing. These outermost feathers are also commonly called "primaries." wildlife Here's a formal name for the feathers themselves: remiges. remex Main Entry: re·mex Pronunciation: 'rE-"meks Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural rem·i·ges /'re-m&-"jEz/ Etymology: New Latin remig-, remex, from Latin, oarsman, from remus oar + agere to drive -- more at ROW, AGENT : a primary or secondary quill feather of the wing of a bird M-W Though you didn't ask--hawks (usually but not exclusively) can be one of two types: buteos and accipiters. "Buteos are a diverse group of medium-to-large hawks that excel in the art of soaring. These are the keen-eyed wind masters, able to tease lift from temperature-troubled air and to soar for long periods on set wings. They are clipper ships of the skies." The accipiters are quick, agile raptors of boreal forest, bayberry thicket, and backyard bird feeder. These are bird-catching hawks, "true hawks", in the meaning of the Latin word Accipiter. Evolution's push and pull has created here a group of birds designed to capture other birds in deep woods and thick growth. From Hawks in Flight, by Pete Dunne, David Sibley and Clay Sutton; pages 7 and 53 respectively. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Page 1 of 2 1 2 Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. 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