Swift feathers

[hapus hapus]

For the last three years I have been helping rear orphaned swifts and adults that need some R&R. Feeding them on a diet of insects and releasing them when they tell me they are ready! However there is so much to learn and I can't find anything on the subject of a wavy edge along the primaries and what it signifies? I have noticed this on some of the birds and wonder if I am missing something in my care of them? Help anyone?

[actionfinch]

IM not sure , but could it have something to do with moulting or age...?

[Dogghound]

Is this predominantly the 9-10th Primaries? These are not moulted until the birds 3rd winter. Wing moult does not occur in their 1st winter, the have an arrested moult in the 2nd winter which often leaves p9-10 unmoulted. It possible this is why your seeing worn feathers, are you aging the birds? This should not occur in Juveniles, not very clear in 1st summers, then very clear in 2nd summer birds and often present in adults but not as bad as 2nd summer birds.

[hapus hapus]

Thanks for your reply. If you mean by the 9th and 10th the outmost primaries then yes. But I have had two juveniles from different nests, one with almost perfectly streamlined feathers and the other with the primaries with a "wavy" edge. On an another issue I have formerly believed that the bird was only ready for its first flight when it has shed all its sheaths and the wings are approx 2cm longer than the tail. I looked after a little "Houdini" with wings only just a bit longer than the tail and with several sheaths still in place who had obviously come out of the nest with his own ideas and for the period of a few days that I cared for him he behaved like a typical youngster begging for food continually but still trying to take off. There is so much to learn!

[valleyforge]

Originally Posted by hapus hapus

... a wavy edge along the primaries and what it signifies? I have noticed this on some of the birds and wonder if I am missing something in my care of them?

Hi .... I don't have experience with swifts per se, but malformed and curled flight feathers, or those without proper vane formation, are usually the result of faulty nutrition (inadequate essential amino acids or vitamin deficiency).

It is generally good practise, especially in feeding young insectiverous birds, to provide a small amount of a suitable supplement, such as SA50 (replaces SA35, which is no longer available), in order to provide a better nutrient balance than might be available even from live food ... but you should seek guidance in this from an experienced avian vet.

Malformation of new feathers may however occasionally be due to chewing by lice, and the minute structure of feathers can become permanently damaged after accidental contamination with mineral (machine) oil ... even after it has been completely removed .... it should be fairly easy to eliminate either of those as possibilities though, I think.