Tree Swallow transporting white feather II

            I saw several birds transporting large white feathers Sunday May 23.  I presume they were taking these for use in their nest building.  Doing a little reading online I found that swallows favor white or gray feathers for use in their nests--the feathers offer insulation, and the white offers some camouflage for the white swallow eggs.  I am not sure if this would be a swan feather?

The thing that really strikes me here is the method by which this swallow appears to be conveying this feather--it does not appear to have the feather in its beak, but hooked in the crook of the wing at the shoulder, perhaps so that some of the feather barbs are hooked under the wing and the rest of the feather draped over the wing. I have some other photos from underneath and behind, though not as sharp.  The feather stayed in place during flight. This bird flew past with this feather and did not drop it. 

I am not sure if this is a known behavior or not, where birds convey objects but not in their beak or talons?  Very interesting!

Taken on: May 23, 2021

Tags:

swallow

bird in flight

Animal Planet

tree swallow

white feather

bird with feather « less

Sets appears in: • Birds with Objects

Groups appears in: • Flickr Nature • Birds , Birds Birds more » • Bird Fanatics! (No Limits) • Animal Planet • #1 Nature & Wildlife Photographers' Corner • Birds Photos - Check out the new discussions! • Birds In Flight Photography • National Geographic Society • Wildlife Photographs • Wild Birds of North America • BEAUTY PHOTOS AROUND THE WORLD « less

Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II, f/6.3, 1/3200 sec, 400mm, ISO 800 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Lens:	EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
Aperture:	f/6.3
Exposure Time:	1/3200 sec
Focal Length:	400mm
ISO:	800
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 10.2 (Macintosh)
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