Tuesday, April 25, 2006, 8:07 pm
More birds on hats
James’s hat sports a tuft of cassowary feathers and the otherworldly blue plumes of a Blue Bird-of-paradise.
Orpah’s spectacular headdress is the final resting place for many a bird. I think the huge central feathers must come from one of the astrapias, which are birds-of-paradise. At least half a dozen whole lorikeets are there too, but I’m not sure which species they are. Papuan Lorikeets have long yellow tail streamers, which these birds appear to have, but the bright blue spots don’t seem to fit. The red feathers may have come from a Vulturine Parrot, but I have no idea where the wings came from. If they are in fact whole wings, the primaries must have been shaved to achieve that look. Photo by June Hathersmith.
David J. Ringer
