Feather ID?

[IronBlue]

Could someone help me identify these feathers?
Two dealers told me they were pretty sure they were from a hen ringneck pheasant, but when I bought a skin, I couldn't find a match.
Thanks!

[letumgo]

I just pulled out my hen ringneck skin and the feathers shown in your photo are a pretty close match. The feathers in the middle back seem to be the closest in terms of the markings. There seems to be a nice range of different types of marking on the skin I own.

EDIT (added in later for other's reference): Hen Pheasant Skin




Other possible matches might be:
Hen Frankolin
Japanese Quail (also known as a Coturnix)

[Roadkill]

Hen Pheasant looks pretty solid to me!

[IronBlue]

You're right. I just gave my skin a closer examination, and found some closer matches.
Do you think these are useful?
I've tied some flymphs with these, but haven't fished them yet.
I really like their mottled color, which seems true to some natural insect wings.
I'm practically a beginner, so I have a lot to learn.

[letumgo]

I am glad you posted this question. I have owned my hen skin for a couple years and not done much with it. Now that I looked it over more carefully, I think this would make some great flies. The skin I have has some very nice light tan hackles on the neck, some darkly marked feathers on the wings and ones similar the ones shown in your photo above.

Thanks!

[Roadkill]

Do you think these are useful?

Haven't yet found a game bird soft hackle I didn't like!

[willowhead]

Iron Blue.........i have those exact feathers........in a couple different baggies, sized large and small, but because the baggies are unmarked......... Must of had them a while or picked them up in a non-traditional way..........whatever that means..........i spose it means other than in a fly shop.
i looked over both my hen ringneck skins, and could not find an exact match..........close, very close, but no bulls eye. Also looked over my Coturnix skins.......same deal. Bottom line, these is no feather that isn't useful.....it's just up to you to find that use. Very simple with feathers like those though. GREAT for flymphs.....think Caddis.

[IronBlue]

Gents,
Many thanks for your help. It is a bit intimidating to be a novice among this group, but you are doing a good job of making me feel at home. I tied a couple of flies tonight with these pheasant hackles, but nothing yet that I dare photograph. Maybe in a few days.

[Mike Connor]

They are hen ringneck pheasant wing coverts;





Although not mentioned much in the literature they were used for a few patterns. The most common being the pheasant and orange, Orange silk and a hen pheasant covert hackle, and the Light March brown spider. Yellow silk dubbed with mixed tan hare's ear and a hen pheasant covert hackle.

TL
MC

[IronBlue]

Mike,
This is great. Packed with useful information. I was especially interested to read that you found it in recipes for March Brown Spiders. Coincidentally I have been using these for some trial designs of a March Brown Dun Flymph which, in photos of the real insect, shows a wing mottled with brown patches. I just found a few dozen of these wing coverts in an unmarked glassine envelope, and liked their look and size. As you can tell, I am relatively new to this. I appreciate the support. There's a lot to learn. Wish I didn't have to work, and could tie flies all day.