Hays Eaglets pin feather (week 4) study 2021 04 23 12 25 25 165

Visible on H14 (right) are the primary flight feathers (the 'hand 'of the wing) and the feathers of the alula (the 'thumb' of the wing, just above the primary flight feathers.
​You can also see the secondary flight feathers along the 'forearm' of H14's wing
​On H15, left, you can see the pinfeathers of both primary flight feathers and the alula
​The alula is made up of about 5 feathers and it plays a really important role in low speed flight with high angles of attack, such as when landing or when making a swoop at a fish.
​from left to right H15, H14,H13. note the different stages of the feathers on the head
​H15 still has natal down tufts riding out on the head feather pins, H14 is showing pins with the natal down tufts now gone, and H13 is starting to show head feather pins unfurling from their waxy keratin sheath.
​H13 currently in zoom view
​feathers emerge from follicles arranged in organized tracts; which you can fairly well make out on H13on H13
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