Abstract
We collected data to see which bird taxa possess unique feather structures, namely the after-shaft and tegmen, as a basis for bird feather identification. Using the collection of the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology, we examined 19 orders, 75 families and 529 species for tegmen feathers, and 18 orders, 44 families and 334 species of non-passerines and six families of passerines for after-shaft feathers. We also examined the authors' personal collection of passerines feathers for after-shaft feathers. After-shafts were present in 15 orders, 35 families and 246 species of non-passerines and 29 families of passerines, and tegmen was present in six orders, nine families and 86 species.
