Common Tailorbird / Emu (Potential Captive Species at Jimmy's Farm) - Identified as an Emu wing feather.

This feather belongs to the Emu, the world's second-largest bird. Standing up to 1.9 meters tall, they are flightless giants with shaggy, hair-like body feathers. This specific feather is from the small, hidden wing. Unlike their body feathers—which usually come in pairs from a single follicle—the wing feathers are single and more structurally defined.

Uniform dark charcoal to brownish-black on both dorsal and ventral surfaces. The rachis is notably pale/creamy white, providing a sharp contrast against the dark vanes.

Mostly pennaceous but with relatively loose barbs compared to flying birds. The distal end is stiff, while the proximal end shows some plumulaceous (downy) structure near the calamus.

Stiff and somewhat coarse to the touch. The surface has a matte appearance with little to no iridescence.

Heavy, contrasting white rachis; deep charcoal-black vanes; extreme asymmetry; stiff texture characteristic of large ratites.

In the wild: Australian savannas and open sclerophyll forests. At Jimmy's Farm (Suffolk): Managed paddock/zoo environment.

Native to mainland Australia. Found worldwide in captive collections, zoos, and specialized farms like Jimmy's Farm.

Large-scale seed disperser in their native Australian range. In a farm setting, they serve as educational ambassadors for biodiversity.

Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus) feathers are larger and softer; Cassowary feathers are generally darker and even stiffer.

Emus are the only birds with a tracheal pouch used for making deep booming sounds. While they cannot fly, their vestigial wings are used for stability while running at speeds up to 30mph.

Excellent condition. The tip is intact, the vanes are not split, and the calamus (quill) is clean, suggesting it was naturally molted recently.

Jimmy’s farm Suffolk uk