It was unlike any from afar but for its lower back feathers standing out in the strong noon light, insisting that this one should be checked out.
It had lost its tail feathers or retrices; it was nonetheless active although keeping mainly to the lower and almost ground level.
AI
Rectrices are the large, stiff tail feathers of a bird that act like a rudder to steer, brake, and balance during flight.
Trauma or Predation: A near-miss by a larger predator, cat, or raptor can cause the bird to shed its tail feathers (fright molt) or have them ripped out during a struggle.
Moulting: Birds occasionally undergo stressful or synchronized moulting where tail feathers drop out simultaneously, though a completely tailless look is more frequently tied to an accident or narrow escape.
No Regeneration: Unlike lizards, birds cannot regrow a lost tail. They must wait for new feathers to grow back naturally from the follicles over several weeks.
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