Date: Oct 10, 2025

Places: various locations in and around Guelph, Ontario

Main reference:

Goal: using the reference above identify some smaller feathers found near Guelph. Some of the feathers were found while on Byron Murray’s tracking trip to Starkey Hill Conservation area. The photos are in no particular order.

Mourning Dove (p. 193):

I found these while walking to the university from the south end. I recognized them straight away as I’ve seen these before. I believe they are tail feathers. Note the characteristic ‘M’ shape of black colouring when the quill is pointing up (‘M’ for Mourning LOL). I wonder why the pictures in the feather book don’t show the ‘M’ shape?

Snowy Owl (p. 198):

This feather is visually similar to the feathers of both the Snowy Owl and the Great Gray Owl, but the latter is more typical of the northern boreal forests. Apparently Snowy Owls have been seen in the University Arboretum. I found this near the university.

Red-tailed Hawk (p. 148):

Visually very similar to the feathers shown in the book, although I’m not seeing the lower bars. However, the size, colour and stripe at the top seem diagnostic. Found by Byron Murray while we were investigating Woodchuck burrows on the University of Guelph campus.

Cedar Waxwing (p. 283):

Looking through the book, these are unmistakable. Found near Starkey Hill. If I recall correctly, these were part of a kill-site.

Robin kill-site:

I’m not totally sure, but based on the size and colour of these feathers they seem to belong to a kill-site of a Robin. If you look carefully you can see some very small feathers at the bottom left with red colouration (see below).

Northern Flicker, yellow-shafted (p. 227):

There are many feathers with bars like this, but my best guess is based on the yellow colour of the rachis.

American Robin (p. 276):

The red colour is a little more faded than what is shown in the book, but I can’t think what else this could be. Found near Starkey Hill. If I recall correctly, these were part of a kill-site.