Identification of shed or plucked origin of Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) tail feathers: Preliminary findings

Abstract 

Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) tail covert feathers were studied to investigate the difference between shed and plucked feathers in the context of wildlife offence cases involving the killing of the Indian national bird for the purpose of plucking feathers. Plucked feathers were distinguished from shed feathers by examining their roots under low magnification of a stereoscopic microscope. A chemical test to show the presence of blood on the roots of plucked feathers was used to corroborate the plucked origin of feathers.

Keywords: Feather, Coverts, Inferior umbilicus, Stereomicroscope, Benzidine, Wildlife forensics