Plumes are in

I love the Spring Racing Carnival in Victoria. I am not interested in the horses but admit I do spend too much time watching the amazing sculptures that women wear on their heads. It’s fascinating. It’s also the time of the year that birds get into the headgear as well.

Breeding plumage is a term used to describe the changes to a males birds’ colour or form that occurs prior to the start of the breeding season. Differences between breeding and non-breeding features can include a change of beak colour and facial skin colour (Great Egret), change in the colour of the head plumage (Australasian Grebe) or the development of erectile ‘aigrette’ plumes over the back and on the chest like the Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), pictured above. Breeding plumage can also include head plumes.

Males birds like the Little Egret and the Nankeen Night Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus), pictured left grow two or three head plumes also known as ribbons prior to breeding season.

Not as flashy as the fascinators at the Melbourne Cup but sometimes less is more.